Adopted 12 December 1939 on 92 SE.

Source: BC place name cards & correspondence, and/or research by BC Chief Geographer & Geographical Names Office staff, file V.1.39 & L.1.56 #1

In 1972, Joseph Whidbey, master of HMS Discovery, made a long exploratory journey with the ship's boats from Nepean Sound via Grenville Channel to Chatham Sound and back. Upon his return, Captain George Vancouver gave the name Pitt's Archipelago to the group of islands that now includes Pitt, McCauley, Porcher and their smaller outliers. Years later, when more detailed surveys were done, the name Pitt was reserved for the archipelago's main island - the fifth largest in B.C. at 1,373 sq km. Vancouver was honouring William Pitt the younger (1759-1806), who was Britian's Prime Minister at the time of his voyage. He had become Prime Minister in 1783, at the astonishing age of 24, and remained in that office, with a three-year hiatus, until his death. he was also the son of a Prime Minister (William Pitt the elder). In the sense that he consolidated his powers in order to supervise and coordinate the various government depts, the younger Pitt was the first modern British Prime Minister. He rehabilitated Britain's finances after the US War of Independence, improving the tax system, issuing banknotes and controlling the national debt. However, he failed to realize his goals of reforming parliament and abolishing the slave trade. Many other features in B.C. are named for him, including the Pitt River, Pitt Lake, Pitt Marsh, Mount Pitt on Pitt Island, Mount Pitt near the headwaters of the Pitt River, and the community of Pitt Meadows.

Source: Scott, Andrew; "The Encyclopedia of Raincoast Place Names"; Harbour Publishing, Madeira Park, 2009, pp. 463.

The first mention by name is Pitts River, which occurs in the journal kept by James McMillan in 1827. (James McMillan was in charge of two parties sent from the Columbia River by Dr. McLaughlin on behalf of the Hudson's Bay Company in the years 1824 and 1827 to survey and establish a trading post in the district). This proves that the name was not derived from a settler at any time. The entry is thus: "Tuesday, 24 July, 1827. We were opposite the Quoitle or Pitts River about 5p.m. and at half past seven o'clock anchored close to the north side and about half a mile above Pim Island."
The alternative name Quoitle seems to be the same as Kwantlen - the name of the Indian tribe [sic] who inhabit the banks of the Fraser River at that point, which was formerly often spelled Quantlum or other variants.
The lake is referred to as "Bedford or Pitt Lake" in a letter from Begbie to Douglas dated Queensboro, 12th March, 1859. The Bedford referred to would be C.N.J. Bedford, who was appointed Magistrate at Langley, where he performed his duties prior to January 29, 1859. (L.I. 26 February 1960).

Source: BC place name cards & correspondence, and/or research by BC Chief Geographer & Geographical Names Office staff, file V.1.39.