McLeod Lake (Trading Post) adopted in the 1930 BC Gazetteer; not Fort McLeod as had been labelled on BC Lands' map 1G, 1916. Name changed to Fort McLeod (Post Office) 7 October 1948 on 93J. Name changed to McLeod Lake (Post Office), not McLeods Lake (Post Office) 3 July 1952 on 93J. Form of name changed to McLeod Lake (community) 31 January 1983 on 93J/14.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

In 1806 Simon Fraser arrived at the post now called Fort McLeod. He found however, that he had been preceeded by James McDougall who had arrived the year previously, 1805, and had erected the building which was first called Trout Lake House, later La Malice Fort (after the French Canadian of that name whom Fraser left in charge), and then Fort McLeod in honour of Archibald Norman McLeod whose activities in the Peace River district [for the North West Company] had at that time reached their peak. (1948 notation on BC name card).

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

This is the Trout Lake where Simon Fraser established a post in 1805. Soon both the lake and the fort were renamed in honour of Archibald Norman McLeod, one of the most energetic officers of the North West Company.

Source: Akrigg, Helen B. and Akrigg, G.P.V; 1001 British Columbia Place Names; Discovery Press, Vancouver 1969, 1970, 1973.

Fort McLeod Post Office was opened 5 June 1937. Changed to McLeods Lake Post Office 2 June 1952, and almost immediately adjusted to McLeod Lake Post Office.

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