[2] The passage was named in 1953 by Commander James Prevost of HMS Virago, after W.E.
It had been previously named Cox's Channel after one of the backers of Iphigenia, commanded by William Douglas in the area in 1788–1789.
Joseph Ingraham in 1791–1792 named it "Cunneyah's Streights" [sic] after the chief of nearby Kiusta.
The first detailed survey of the passage was in 1791 by Captain Etienne Marchand of La Solide.
[3] The Haida village of Dadens was located on the south end of Langara Island, facing the passage.