The San Juan Islands (in San Juan County)
Aleegria Island
Allan Island
Anderson Island
Armitage Island
Barnes Island
"Barnes Island, northeast of Orcas
Island, in San Juan County. The Spaniard Eliza, 1791, charted Barnes and Clark
Islands as "Islos de Aguayo," using part of the long name of a Spanish nobleman
who will be more particularly noted under the name of Orcas Island. The Wilkes
Expedition, 1841, here honored an American naval hero as was doen in the other
names of islands in what they called the "Navy Archipelago." Origin of
Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Barren Island
Battleship Island
Bell Island
Blakely Island
"Blakely, an island in San Juan County....The island...named by the Wilkes Expedition, 1841, in honor of Johnston Blakely, an American naval hero of the War of 1812." Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Blind Island
Boulder Island
"Boulder Island, at southeastern
extremity of Lopez Island, San Juan county. It was charted by the United States
Coast Survey, 1855."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Brown Island
Buck Island
"Buck Island, off southwest coast
of Lopez Island, San Juan County. The Wilkes Expedition, 1841, charted it as one
of the 'Geese Islets.'"
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Burrows Island
Cactus Islands
"Cactus Islands, north of Spieden
Island in San Juan County. They seem to be first named on the British Admiralty
Chart 2689, Richards, 1858-1859"
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Canoe Island
"Canoe Island, in Upright Channel,
between Shaw and Lopez Islands, in San Juan County. The name first appears on
the British Admiralty Chart 2840, Richards, 1858-1860."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Castle Island
"Castle Island, off the southeast
shore of Lopez Island, just north of Colville Island, in San Juan County. It
first appears on the British Admiralty Chart 2689, Richards, 1858-1859. In the
United States Coast Survey Report, 1855, Chart 44, it is shown as 'Old Hundred
Island.'"
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Cemetery Island
Center Island
Clark Island
"Clark Island, northeast of Orcas
Island, in San Juan County, was named by the Wilkes Expedition, 1841. This
island and the nearby Barnes Island were named by the Spaniard Eliza, 1791,
'Islas de Aguays' after part of the long name of the Viceroy of Mexico....The
one here honored was probably Midshipman John Clark, who was killed in Perry's
Battle of Lake Erie."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Cliff Island
"Cliff Island, one of the seven
Wasp Islands northwest of Shaw Island in San Juan County. The name first appears
on the British Admiralty Chart 2840, Richards, 1858-1860."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Colville Island
"Colville Island, at southeast end
of Lopez Island, in San Juan County. It appears first on the British Admiralty
Chart 2689, Richards, 1858-1859."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Crab Island
Crane Island
"Crane Island, northwest of Shaw
Island, in San Juan County. It first appears on the British Admiralty Chart
2689, Richards,
1858-1859."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Cypress Island
Deadman Island
Decatur Island
Dinner Island
"Dinner Island, at western
entrance to North Bay, part of Griffin Bay, San Juan Island, in San Juan County.
The name first appears on the British Admiralty Chart 2689, Richards, 1858-1859.
It is claimed that a landing party from a British vessel found a poor harbor
where Argyle is now located. They landed on the little island and ate their
dinner. When the vessel moved on to Friday Harbor the men spoke of Dinner Island
and that name found its way to the charts."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Doe Island
Double Island
"Double Island, near the
southwestern entrance to West Sound, Orcas Island, in San Juan County. The name
first appears on the British Admiralty Chart 2840, Richards, 1858-1860."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Eliza Island
Ewing Island
"Ewing Island, at the eastern end
of the group called Sucia Islands, in the northern part of San Juan County. The
name first appears on the British Admiralty Chart 2689, Richards, 1858-1859, and
is probably in honor of the schooner Ewing. Lieutenant James Alden while
commanding the work of the United States Coast Survey on this station, 1855, had
with him the steamer Active and the above named schooner. The names 'Alden' and
'Active' are used in the same locality. The name of Ewing Island does not appear
on the United States Government charts."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Fawn Island
"Fawn Island, a small island in
Deer Harbor, on the southwestern shore of Orcas Island in San Juan County. The
name first appears on the British Admiralty Chart 2840, Richards 1858-1860."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Flattop Island
"Flattop Island, between
Speiden and Orcas Islands in San Juan County. The name is descriptive and was
given by the Wilkes Expedition, 1841, and was retained on the charts of the
United States Coast Survey and the British Admiralty."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Flower Island
Fortress Island
Freeman's Island
"Freeman's Island, a small island
on the west coast of Orcas Island, just south of Point Doughty, in San Juan
County. John Doughty was a petty officer, captain of the top, and J.D. Freeman,
sailmaker on the Peacock of the squadron, was undoubtedly the one honored when
the Wilkes Expedition, 1841, named Freeman's Island."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Frost Island
"Frost Island, a small island
between Blakely and Lopez Islands in San Juan County. It was named by the Wilkes
Expedition, 1841, in honor of John Frost, boatswain of the Porpoise, in the
Wilkes squadron."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Goose Island
"Goose Island, near Cattle Point
on the southeastern end of San Juan Islands, San Juan County. It first appears
on the British Admiralty Chart 2840, Richards, 1858-1860."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Gossip Islands
"Gossip Islands, small islands
just south of Stuart Island in San Juan County. The name appears on the British
Admiralty Chart 2840, Richards, 1858-1860, but does not appear on the charts of
the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Guemes Island
Guss Island
"Guss Island, in Garrison Bay, San
Juan Island, San Juan County. Charles McKay, a pioneer of Friday Harbor, says it
was named for Guss Hoffmaster, a German who ran a store for the British camp
during the time of join occupancy of San Juan Island."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Hall Island
"Hall Island, off the southern
shore of Lopez Island, San Juan County. The name first appears on the British
Admiralty Chart 2689, Richards, 1858-1860."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Henry Island
Iceberg Island
James Island
Johns Island
"Johns Island, east of Stuart
Island, in San Juan County. It was named by the Wilkes Expedition, 1841. It is
not known for whom the honor was intended. The British Admiralty Chart 2840,
Richards, 1858-1860, shows the name of John's Pass for the waterway between
Johns Island and Stuart Island."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Jones Island
Justice Island
Little Island
Little Patos Island
Little Sister Island
Lone Tree Island
Lopez Island
"Lopez Isnaldn, in San Juan
County. The Spaniards in 179 included this island in their Isla y Archipelago de
San Juan. The Wilkes Expedition, 1841, charted it as 'Chauncys Island.' This was
an honor for Captain Isaac Chauncy, a her of the united States navy. Captain
Henry Kellett, of the British Navy restored a Spanish name in 1847 using part of
the name of Lopez Gonzales de Haro, reputed to have been the first discoverer of
the archipelago."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Low Island
"Low Island, one of the seven Wasp
Islands northwest of Shaw Island in San Juan County. It first appears in the
British Admiralty Chart 2689, Richards, 1858-1859."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Lummi Island
Matia Islands
"Matia Islands, a group northeast
of Orcas Island, San Juan County. The Spanish charts of Eliza, 1791, and of
Galliano and Valdes, 1792, show the name 'Isla de Mata.' The Wilkes Expedition,
1841, charted 'Edmunds Group.' The name Matia was conferred by the United States
Coast Survey in 1854."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Mcconnell Island
Minor Island
Nob Island
"Nob Island, one of the seven Wasp
Islands, San Juan County."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
North Finger Island
Obstruction Island
"Obstruction Island, between
Blakely and Orcas Island, in San Juan County. It was named by the Wilkes
Expedition, 1841."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
O'Neal Island
"O'Neal island, off the
northwest shore of San Juan Island, in San Juan County. It was named by the
Wilkes Expedition, 1841, after a hero in the American navy."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Orcas Island
"Orcas Island, in San Juan County.
The Spanish chart by Galliano and Valdez, 1792, included this island in the
vaguely outlined 'Isla y Archipelago de Sn. Juan.' The year before, the Spanish
Captain Francisco Eliza charted Griffin Bay, or 'Ontario Roads' as 'Boca de
Horcasitas,' after a Spanish vessel by that name, from which the 'H' was
omitted. It is also a part of the long name of the Viceroy in Mexico, Senor Don
Juan Vicente de Guemes Pacheco y Padilla Orcasitees y Aguayo Conde de Revilla
Gigedo, which was distributed to geographic features by Captain Eliza. The
Wilkes Expedition, 1841, gave the name 'Hull's Island' after Commodore Isaac
hull who commanded the United States frigate Constitution and captured the
English vessel Guerriere. To emphasize the honor bestowed Captain Wilkes named
Mount Constitution and called East Sounds 'Ironside Inlet' after the frigate's
pet name and West Sound he called 'Guerriere Bay,' after the vessel captured.
All these names have disappeared except that of Mount Constitution. Captain
Kellett, of the British Navy, in 1847, restored many Spanish names, including
the name of Orcas Island, which used only part of the original and had not been
applied to the island by the Spaniards. Captain Kellett's choice of name was
retained on the British Admiralty chart number 1917 and has been used on all
charts since."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Patos Island
Pearl Island
Picnic Island
Pointer Island
Pole Island
Portage Island
Posey Island
Puffin Island
"Puffin Island, one of the Matia
Islands in the northwestern part of San Juan County. It was named from the
tufted puffins nesting there. The United States Coast Survey changed the name to
'Matia East'. The United States Coast and Geodetic Survey has restored the name,
Puffin Island."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Ram Island
Reef Island
"Reef Island, one of the seven
Wasp Islands, in the central part of San Juan County. Named for its formation."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Rim Island
Ripple Island
"Ripple Island, a small island
between Spieden and John Islands, in the northern part of San Juan County. The
name first appears on the British Admiralty Chart 2689, Richards, 1858-1859"
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Rum Island
Samish Island
San Juan Island
"San Juan Island, the western part
of San Juan County, received its name in 1791 from the Spanish explorer Eliza,
who realized that there were several islands in the group and wrote on his chart
'Isla y Archiepelago de San Juan.' The Spanish map remained only in manuscript
for many years. The Wilkes Expedition, 1841, respected the names given by
Vancouver in 1792 but apparently knew nothing of the 'San Juan' name. The large
island was named 'Rodgers' in honor of Commodore John Rodgers who commanded the
President in the combat with the Little Belt, which was also commemorated in the
attempted naming of the adjacent waterways...The whole group was called 'Navy
Archipelago,' the report saying: 'Navy Archipelago is a collection of 25
islands, having the Straits of Fuca on the south, the Gulf of Georgia on the
north, the Canal de Arro on the west and Ringgold's Channel on the east. They
have been named from distinguished officers late of the U.S. naval
service....Captain Henry Kellet , of the Royal Navy, n 1847, restored the
Spanish name of San Juan for the island but gave no name for the archipelago.
The Hudson's Bay Company gave a local name of 'Bellevue' to the island. When the
United States Coast survey began work among the islands in 1853, the archipelago
was named Washington Sound. The confusion of names for the island is shown by
the official charting of 'Bellevue or San Juan Island.' The maps of the Surveyor
General of Washington Territory of 1857 and 1859 show the same duel names. Later
the American geographers dropped the name
'Bellevue' and accepted the Spanish name as restored
on the British charts."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Satellite Island
Sentinel Island
Shaw Island
"Shaw Island, in the central part
of San Juan County. The Spanish Captain Eliza in 1791 included this island with
others in his 'Isla y Archipelago de San Juan' The present name was given by the
Wilkes Expedition, 1841, in honor of Captain John D. Shaw, of the United States
Navy, who had served prominently in the war against the Algiers, 1815."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Sheep Island
"Sheep Island, in West Sound,
Orcas Island, San Juan County. It was charted by Captain Richards, 1858-1860."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Sinclair Island
Skull Island
Small Island
Smith Island
South Finger Island
Spieden Island
Strawberry Island
Stuart Island
Sucia Islands
"Sucia
Islands, in the northern part of San Juan County. The name originated with the
Spaniards, Captain Eliza's map of 1791 showing the group of small islands at
'Isla Sucia'. In the Spanish language sucio means 'dirty', or, in nautical
phrase, 'foul'. In other words, the shore was deemed unclean and reefy. The
Wilkes Expedition, 1841, called the islands 'Percival Group', an honor
intended for Captain John Percival, a distinguished officer of the United States
Navy. This name was used on September 1, 1859, by Surveyor General James Tilton
on his Map of a Part of Washington Territory, but the Spanish name of Sucia had
been restored on the British Admiralty Chart 1917, evidently by Captain Henry
Kellett in 1847. The United States Coast Survey followed this restoration of the
name of Sucia Islands in its chart of 1854. That name has persisted since then."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Swirl Island
Towhead Island
Trump Island
Turn Island
"Turn Island, on the east shore of
San Juan Island, in the southwest part of San Juan County, was named 'Point
Salsburg' by the Wilkes Expedition, 1841. This was intended as a honor for
Francis Salsbury, Captain of the Top, in one of the vessels of the expedition.
The 'point' was found to be an island at a turn in the channel between San Juan
and Shaw Islands and was mapped as Turn Island on the British Admiralty Chart
2689, Richards, 1858-1859. The name is retained by American geographers and
about a third of a mile eastwardly from the north point of the island is a rock
which bares at low tide. This has been named Turn Rock and has been marked for
the aid of navigators.
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Victim Island
"Victim Island, in West Sound,
Orcas Island, in the central part of San Juan County, was first mapped on the
British Admiralty Chart 2689, Richards, 1858-1859, on account of evidences of
Indian battles there."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Waldron Island
"Waldron Island, in the north
central part of San Juan County, was named by the Wilkes Expedition, 1841. The
honor was probably intended for Thomas W. Waldron, Captain's clerk of the brig
Porpoise of the Expedition. However, it is possible that two men were honored in
the one name as R.R. Waldron was Purser of the Vincennes, another vessel of the
Expedition. A postoffice on the southwest shore of the island has the same
name."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Wasp Islands
"Wasp
Islands, southwest of Orcas Island, in the central part of San Juan County, were
named by the Wilkes Expedition, 1841. Just north of these islets, lies
Jones Island. Captain Wilkes thus honored Master Commandant Jacob Jones who in
the United States sloop of war Wasp captured the British brig Frolic on October
18, 1812...Captain Richards in 1858-1860 retained the names of Wasp Island and
gave the separate islands their names:-Bird Rock, Brown, Cliff, Nob, Reef and
Yellow."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
Willow Island
Yellow Island