Metchosin (Post Office & Railway Station) adopted in 1930 BC Gazetteer, as labelled on BC map 2A, 1913 et seq. Status changed to Metchosin (Post Office) 6 November 1934 on National Defence sheet 415b, Metchosin. Status changed to Metchosin (Community) 31 January 1983 on 92 B/5. Incorporated as District Municipality 3 December 1984, called District of Metchosin; confirmed 14 January 1985 on 92 B/5 and 92 B/6. Boundaries reduced per Letters Patent 8 March 2017 by OIC 133/2017.

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

Metchosin Post Office was opened 1 April 1881; closed 1 August 1891; reopened, closed & reopened numerous times before closing 11 July 1973.

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

A number of possible meanings have been offered for this Salishan First Nation word, including “smelling of fish oil” or “place of fish oil” – derivations that may be related to the beaching of a dead whale in the area. HBC chief factor James Douglas mentioned the name after visiting the area in 1842. Once agricultural and still semi-rural, Metchosin is now a residential suburb of Victoria and a district municipality. Metchosin Creek and Metchosin Mountain are named after the district.

Source: Scott, Andrew; "The Encyclopedia of Raincoast Place Names"; Harbour Publishing, Madeira Park, 2009, pp. 385.