Stewart Bay identified in the 1930 BC Gazetteer, as labelled on British Admiralty Chart 592, 1865 et seq. Spelling changed to Stuart Bay 3 April 1934 on C.327. Application extended 19 March 1971 on 92C/13 to include the bay extension to the northwest.

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

"Named in 1861 by Captain Richards, RN, after Captain Charles Edward Stuart, at one time an officer in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company. He established on his own account, early in 1860, a trading post at Ucluelet, and was present at the store when the Peruvian vessel Florencia was wrecked in the vicinity, December 1860. Captain Stuart purchased the wreck and cargo of lunber, on the spot, from the mate of the vessel (the captain being drowned) for $100, a bargain which was afterwards repudiated by the authorities in Victoria (Colonist, 12 January 1861)...."

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 traditional name is Hac'aaqis (pronounced hats AHKis) (Ucluelet First Nation and Toquaht First Nation, December 2010)

Source: included with note