It is named after Spanish naval commander Juan de Lángara.

During Lángara's period at the head of the Spanish navy, Spanish explorers were charting the coast of what is now British Columbia, and, in their charts, named some land formations after him.

Juan José Pérez Hernández was the first European to sight, examine, name, and record these islands.

In July 1774, he briefly met a group of Haida off the northwestern tip of Langara Island.

The eradication campaign for R. norvegicus was begun in July 1995 using anti-coagulant bait and the island was declared free of rats in May 1997.