Adopted 4 May 1946 on C384, as labelled on British Admiralty Chart #1923 B, 1867 et seq, and as identified in the 1930 BC Gazetteer.

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

This Heiltsuk First Nation term is believed to mean “bird sitting on the water.” The 18,750-ha Koeye Conservancy, an intact old-growth rainforest watershed with some of BC’s most productive salmon and grizzly bear habitat, represents an important aspect of the lands protected by the historic 2006 central coast land-use decision. The Koeye people, a branch of the Heiltsuk, formerly occupied several village sites on this river. A Heiltsuk-owned ecotourism lodge is now located at its mouth. About 1.5 km upstream are the remains of a limestone quarry, which operated 1935-67. The nearby Koeye Range and Lake are named after the River.

Source: Scott, Andrew; "The Encyclopedia of Raincoast Place Names"; Harbour Publishing, Madeira Park, 2009, pages 316-317.

A Heiltsuk word, possibly meaning "sitting on the water"

Source: Akrigg, Helen B. and Akrigg, G.P.V; 1001 British Columbia Place Names; Discovery Press, Vancouver 1969, 1970, 1973.