Adopted 30 June 1911 in the 10th Report and confirmed 31 March 1924 in the 18th Report. Named after Commander Henry Charles Otter, Royal Navy, surveying officer; died in 1876.

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

Royal Navy surveying officer Henry Charles Otter (1807-76) was never on the BC coast but gained reputation (and a promotion) for his Baltic surveys while in command of HMS Alban during the Crimean War. As captain of HMS Firefly, he also destroyed several enemy vessels in the Gulf of Bothnia during the Russian conflict. Otter helped land the western end of the transatlantic telegraph cable at Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, in 1858 and was widely admired for his detailed surveys of the rugged west coast of Scotland. He was named a CB in 1867 and achieved the rank of read admiral, retire in 1870. This feature was originally named Otter Head in 1846 by Captain Henry Kellett of HMS Herald.

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