[6] The archipelago is named after an 18th-century British marine surveyor, John Ritchie, who spent nearly two decades in the employ of the Council of Bengal charting and documenting the Andaman's and surrounding regions.

The individual islands are largely named after British generals and civil officials serving in India at the time of the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

Of the archipelago which now bears his name, Ritchie's accounts and maps were the first reliable sources of information on the islands, which until then were very sketchily known to Europeans.

In the meantime it has been from my Labours, that the Hon'ble Company have obtained all authentic knowledge of the Sea Coast and Tide Rivers of their possessions in Bengal, together with other services more important and beneficial.

The islands are located in the Bay of Bengal, bordering with the Andaman Sea and are some 400 km (250 mi) south of the nearest Asian mainland, Cape Negrais in Myanmar.

Port Blair, is located approximately 40 km (25 mi) to the southwest of the archipelago, accessible via a 3-5 hour ferry trip.