It was surveyed by the South Georgia Survey in the period 1951–57 and named by the UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee for Irishman Tom Crean, Second Officer of the Endurance during the British expedition under Ernest Shackleton, 1914–16.
The location was explored by the South Georgia Survey between 1951–57 and given a name by the UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee in recognition of Tom Crean's role as Second Officer on the Endurance during Shackleton's expedition from 1914 to 1916.