Narrow Island identified in the 1930 BC Gazetteer, as labelled on British Admiralty Chart #569, 1865. Renamed Strange Island 6 November 1934 on C345, as submitted by H.D. Parizeau, Hydrographic Service.

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

Re-named by H.D. Parizeau, Hydrograhic Service, after James Charles Stuart Strange (1753-1840), the East India Company supercargo [officer in charge] of the fur trading expedition to this coast from Bombay in 1786, in the vessels "Experiment" and "Captain Cook" under Captains Guise and Laurie, respectively. Also James Cone.

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

The surgeon's mate of the "Captain Cook", named Mackay, was left at Friendly Cove by his own request, and remained with the natives for about twelve months, during which time they treated him very well... as one of themselves. (Meares' Voyage, 4°, p.132) He was taken away the following year, 1787, by Captain C.W. Barkley of the "Imperial Eagle"...

Source: Walbran, John T; "British Columbia Coast Names, 1592-1906: Their Origin and History"; published for the Geographic Board of Canada, Ottawa, 1909 (republished for the Vancouver Public Library by J.J. Douglas Ltd, Vancouver, 1971)