Adopted 4 March 1920, as identified in BC Mines Reports from mid-1880's onward; tributary to Columbia River at 51 27- 118 27. Confirmed 12 December 1939 on Big Bend sheet. Headwaters confirmed 26 March 1973, at 51 19 30 - 117 57 05 on 82 N/5. Coordinates of mouth altered 19 March 1987 on 82 M/9, due to flooding of Columbia River behind Mica Dam.

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

"Doubtless after William Downie, a prospector employed by Sir James Douglas, 1858." (1920 notation on BC name card).

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

After "Major" William Downie, an explorer after whom Downieville in California was also named. He explored the road from Bute Inlet to the Cariboo via Homathko River in 1861, and in 1865 ascended the Columbia River before the steamer "49" was used on that route.

Source: Laing, Frederick W; Geographical Naming Record, September 1938; unpublished manuscript held in the Provincial Archives

After William Downie, California miner who came to BC in 1858 and explored much of the colony for Governor Douglas; he travelled up the Columbia to the Big Bend goldfields in 1865. A Scotsman, he had been one of the founders and the first mayor of Downieville, California, 1849.

Source: Provincial Archives' Place Names File (the "Harvey File") compiled 1945-1950 by A.G. Harvey from various sources, with subsequent additions

"In the spring of 1865 four boatloads of prospectors left Marcus, in Washington Territory, to prospect the Columbia river. They were headed by five men who, in some form or other, have left their mark upon the country, a creek, a basin, or a mountain peak being named after them. These men were Wm. Downie, Hy. Cairns [sic], Nelson De Mars, Louis Lee and Steve Liberty." (1905 BC Mines Report, p.149; excerpt located & shared Sept 2012 by historian John Woods, Revelstoke)

Source: included with note