Adopted in the 2nd Report of the Geographic Board of Canada, 1900. Confirmed 7 March 1933 on Ottawa file OBF 1420, 14 June 1946 on 103SE, 12 March 1950 on C3739 and 3740, and 2 October 1952 on 103H.

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

"Named in 1866 by Captain Pender, RN. After Donald Fraser, native of Scotland, member of the legal profession and a well-known resident of Victoria for several years. Member of the Legislative Council for Vancouver Island and its dependencies, his commission being dated 15 November 1858. Fraser was a man of great energy, experience and sound judgement, and while a resident of Victoria was greatly interested in all schemes for the welfare of the city and surrounding country, especially for procuring speedier communicationsbetween the colony and Europe be means of fast steamers and the isthmus of Panama, and made several visits to San Francisco to further this object. One of the largest holders of real estate on Vancouver Island, and correspondent for the London Times. (Victoria Colonist 8 January 1866). Returned to England 1873; died in London in 1897."

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)

"The northern part of this channel is called by the Haisla P'nis (pronounced puh-NEES) and they call the southern part C'elitan (Tsuh-LEE-tuhn). The shorelines on both sides comprise a Haisla stewardship area." (information contributed February 2007 by anthropologist James V. (Jay) Powell, Professor Emeritus, University of British Columbia, Vancouver; consultant to Haisla Nation, 2000-present).

Source: included with note