"Harwood Island" adopted 27 April 1945 on Hydrographic Chart #3591, as labelled on Captain Vancouver's map, 1798, and on British Admiralty Chart 580, 1862 et seq. Name changed to "Ahgykson Island" under provisions of the Tla'amin Treaty, 5 April 2016. Spelling changed 5 April 2025 to ʔaʔgayqsən (island) on map 92F/15, as recommended by the Tla'amin Nation, 2024.

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

"Named by [Captain George] Vancouver and noticed by him in his journal, under date 25 June 1792 as follows: "On the coast of the mainland, opposite this island, is a small brook probably of fresh water [today's Powell River], from whence as we advanced the shores put on a very dreary aspect, chiefly composed of rugged rocks thinly wooded with small dwarf pine trees." Vancouver's description, given one hundred and fourteen years ago, is as applicable at this time of writing as on the June day he sailed along this shore with his two vessels, accompanied by the Spanish officers Galiano and Valdes in their small craft. Named after Edward Harwood, eldest son of Edward Harwood, DD, native of Lancashire, classic scholar and biblical critic. He was for many years a surgeon in the navy, and served under Captain (later Admiral) William Bligh on board HMS Providence, 1791-1794....."

Source: Walbran, John T; British Columbia Coast Names, 1592-1906: their origin and history; Ottawa, 1909 (republished for the Vancouver Public Library by J.J. Douglas Ltd, Vancouver, 1971)

See "Gaviola, Camino and Romay: 18th century placenames in the Strait of Georgia" by Gabriola Island historian Nick Doe, for a discussion of the Spanish explorers' name for Harwood Island - Punta de Camino. www.nickdoe.ca/pdfs/Webp511c.pdf (link provided April 2011.)

Source: included with note

ʔaʔgayqsən is a word in the ʔayʔajuθəm language, belonging to ɬaʔamɩn (Tla'amin), ƛoʔos (Klahoose), χʷɛmaɬku (Homalco) and k’ómoks (K'omoks) people (information provided by Tla'amin Nation, 2025).

Source: included with note

The name ʔaʔgayqsən translates to "pointed nose" in reference to [the island's] shape. ʔaʔgayqsən was also a village site for thousands of years as evidenced by numerous archaeological sites. Today, many Tla'amin people still utilize the island to gather a variety of traditional foods and medicines (information provided by Tla'amin Nation, 2025).

Source: included with note