"Bellabella (Post Office, settlement, steamer landing & cannery)" adopted in the 1930 BC Gazetteer, situated on the northwest side of Denny Island. Form of name changed to Bella Bella (Post Office & steamer landing) 14 June 1946 on 103SE, and re-confirmed as a Post Office 4 September 1952. Form of name changed to Bella Bella (community) 15 December 1982. Band Manager and RCMP reported in February 1991 that "Old" Bella Bella is now the established name for this original community site on the northwest side of Denny Island, although nothing remains there now except a BC Fish Packers facility. Name changed to Old Bella Bella (community) 22 February 1991 on 103A/1.

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

Bella Bella Post Office was opened 1 September 1884. The post office operated for some years out of the BC Packers Cannery on Denny Island, but sometime after 1970 the Bella Bella Post Office was relocated eastward about 1 mile to the community of Shearwater.

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

The main site of Bella Bella Indian Village has migrated: originally located on islets off the northwest side of Denny Island, as labelled on Admiralty Chart 2449, 1869. By the early 1870's the main village site had been relocated to McLaughlin [sic] Bay on Campbell Island, near the HBC trading post, as labelled on Admiralty Chart 1901, 1872. By 1923 the village site had been relocated 1 mile northward to the site that became known as New Bella Bella. By 1923 a hospital, school, wharf, etc. were located here (BC Pilot, Vol II, 1923, p34).

Source: included with note