During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee.

In the 1400s, the name was spelled Bjarnaska which could be similar to a meaning such as "bear danger".

On 6 January 1908, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Bjørnskinn.

At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Dverberg prestegjeld and the Vesterålen prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

Here is a list of people who held this position:[14] The municipal council (Herredsstyre) of Bjørnskinn was made up of 13 representatives that were elected to four year terms.

The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.