The Canary Islands Were Named After Dogs, Not Birds

Here's a twist that catches everyone off guard: the Canary Islands weren't named after those cheerful yellow birds. In fact, it's the exact opposite—the canary bird was named after the islands. And the islands? They got their name from dogs.

The name traces back to the Latin Canariae Insulae, which translates to "Islands of the Dogs" (canis being Latin for dog). When ancient explorers reached these Atlantic islands off the coast of Africa, they encountered something memorable enough to inspire the name, though historians still debate what exactly those "dogs" were.

The Ancient Expedition

The story begins with King Juba II of Mauretania, a Roman ally who sent an expedition to explore the mysterious islands around 40 BCE. According to Pliny the Elder's Natural History, written in 77 AD, the explorers reported finding "vast multitudes of dogs of very large size." That account stuck, and the name "Islands of the Dogs" became official.

But what kind of dogs were they talking about?

Three Competing Theories

The exact identity of these "dogs" remains one of geography's delightful mysteries. Here are the main contenders:

• Actual large dogs: Perhaps indigenous people kept sizable dogs that impressed the Roman expedition
• Monk seals: These marine mammals were abundant and nicknamed "sea dogs" because of their dog-like faces and barking sounds
• Folk etymology: Some scholars suggest the name might come from the Canarii, a Berber tribe from nearby Morocco who may have settled the islands

The monk seal theory has gained traction because these animals were once common in the region and their resemblance to dogs would have been striking to ancient explorers unfamiliar with the species.

So Where Do Canary Birds Fit In?

The small yellow birds we call canaries are native to these islands (along with Madeira and the Azores). European traders discovered them there, fell in love with their singing, and started exporting them in the 15th century. The birds were named after their home—the Canary Islands—creating a delightful irony that persists today.

Most people assume it's the other way around, that bird-filled islands inspired the name. The reality is far more interesting: a case of mistaken identity spanning two millennia, where dogs (or dog-like seals) got there first, and birds inherited the reputation.

A Name That Outlived Its Origin

Today, the Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago and tourist destination, famous for beaches, volcanoes, and year-round sunshine. The original dogs—whether canine or pinniped—are long gone from the landscape. Monk seals are now critically endangered in the region.

But the name endures, a linguistic fossil preserving an ancient explorer's surprise at encountering something unexpected on remote Atlantic shores. Every time someone mentions canary birds, they're unknowingly referencing those mysterious dogs of antiquity—a connection hidden in plain sight for nearly 2,000 years.