What Are The Canary Islands Named After?

Most of people seem to think that the name “Canary Islands” comes from name of a bird, but … let’s say, it isn’t the bird it’s another animal.

The name “Canary Islands” is most probably derived after “Insularia Canaria” the Latin for “Island of the Dogs”. Reason for that kind of name is that an extinctive breed of dogs lived on the territory.

At first, only the island Grand Canary was called that way but then the name was extended to the whole group.

And back to “the bird”… Actually, name of the canary bird came from the name of “Canary Islands”.