Adopted 7 March 1933 on Canadian Geographic Survey #278A and in Ottawa File OBF 1420, confirmed 3 July 1946 on BC Land's Map 103SE, as establised on BC Land's Map 2F, 1927, in 1930 Gazetteer of Canada, and on Map 103B/14W.

Source: BC place name cards & correspondence, and/or research by BC Chief Geographer & Geographical Names Office staff, files P.3.33, Q.1.45, & Q.1.54.

Named by geologist George M Dawson in 1878 after the Haida First Nation name for the E end of the island (now known as Heming Head). Two quite different meanings for the word have been advanced: QCI expert Kathleen Dalzell states that it refers to the marine bioluminescence that is very noticeable at that location: BC historians Helen and Philip Akrigg translate it as “to slice something that is fat.” The island saw a great deal of prospecting activity for copper in the early 1900s. Thurston Hbr on its N side was important “aeroplane spruce” camp during WWI and continued to be a logging centre for many years thereafter.

Source: Scott, Andrew; "The Encyclopedia of Raincoast Place Names"; Harbour Publishing, Madeira Park, 2009, page 582.