Village Island identified and presumed adopted in the 6th Report of the Geographic Board of Canada, 30 June 1906 (in the location description for Effingham, Port). Name changed to Effingham Island in the 12th Report of the Geographic Board of Canada, 30 June 1913.

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

"Effingham Island. Formerly Village Island. Name changed by the Geographic Board of Canada in 1905. Named Village Island by Captain C.W. Barkley, of the trading ship Imperial Eagle, 1787. Barkley made a sketch survey of the island and sound, which is published in Meares' Voyages, 4th edition, p.172. In comparing this plan with the present Admiralty charts the island can be readily recognized. Mrs. Barkley, wife of Captain Barkley, in her interesting diary states:- 'we anchored in a snug harbour in the sound, of which my husband made a plan as far as his knowledge of it would permit. The anchorage was off a large village, and therefore we named the island, Village Island'."

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)

"A prime illustration of the soundness of Henri Parizeau's long-standing argument against repetition occurred in February 1923. During a raging storm the Tofino lifeboat crew received word that the British freighter Tuscan Prince was aground on Village Island in Clayoquot Sound. The heroic crew battled their way to the scene and searched unsuccessfully for the stranded steamer. A Japanese fisherman then reported the Prince wrecked at Village Island in Barkley Sound. The confusion cost precious hours, endangered the lives of the lifeboat crew and almost cost the lives of the freighter's company. Consequently, the name of Village Island in Barkley Sound was changed to Effingham Island." (from an article by T.W. Paterson, published in B.C. Outdoors magazine, April 1971.) [note that the island was renamed a decade or more before the 1923 shipwreck.]

Source: Canadian Geographical Names Database, Ottawa

Renamed in association with Port Effingham [since changed to Effingham Bay] in turn named in July 1788 by Captain Meares in the trading vessel Felice, in honour of the Rt. Hon. Thomas Howard, third Earl of Effingham, Deputy Earl Marshal of England.

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