Adopted 3 June 1947 on C.3683, as labelled on British Admiralty Chart 583, 1865 et seq, and on BC map 2C, 1919.

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

Named 1862 by Captain Richards, RN, after Captain John Bunsby, an amusing character in Charles Dickens' novel "Domby and Son" published in 1848. Captain Bunsby's vessel was the brig, Cautious Clara, hence the association in this neighbourhood of the names Cautious Point and Clara Islet. Two other "Dickens" names were also given in this vicinity: Gay Passage after Walter Gay, nephey of Old Sol Gills, the instrument maker; and Cuttle Group, after that genial mariner, Captain Cuttle.

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)