"Kitsumgallum River" adopted 31 March 1924 in the 18th Report of the Geographic Board of Canada, as labelled on BC map 3M, 1916; confirmed 4 November 1948 on 103NE. Spelling changed to "Kitsumkalum River" 4 February 1949 on 103NE; confirmed 4 October 1951 on 103I. Kitsumkalum originates from the name of an Indigenous community and means "the people who dwell on the edge of a cliff."

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

"The word Kitsum-Kaylum is an anglicized form of the ancient Indian name of Kitsum’Alum, Kitsum of course meaning 'the people' and ‘Alum, 'dwellers on the edge of the Cliff.'" From correspondance with local historian in preperation of a new edition of 103 NE, 1948.

Source: BC place name cards, files, correspondence and/or research by BC Chief Geographer/Geographical Names Office, file P.1.48, L.I. 11 December 1948.

Labelled "Kilumax River" on Trutch's 1871 map of BC. Spelling variations listed in the 18th Report of Canada are "Kit-sum-kay-lum" and "Kitsumgalum." 1930 Gazetteer of Canada defines "Kitsumgallum" as "people on the upper part of the river."

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

The portion of the river that flows into Kitsumkalum Lake (North of the lake) was labelled as "Kicsumgallum River (Beaver)" on BC Map 3M, 1916; then labelled as "Kitsumgallum River (Beaver)" on the 1921 edition. The southern part of the river, that flows from Kitsumkalum Lake to the Skeena River, is labelled as "Kitsumgallum River" on both maps.

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