It was first mapped by the British Antarctic Expedition, 1907–09, which named it for Ernest Joyce who was in charge of general stores, dogs, sledges, and zoological collections with the expedition and who had earlier been with the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901–04.
Ernest Joyce was responsible for managing general stores, dogs, sledges, and zoological collections on the British Antarctic Expedition (1907–09). This expedition mapped a location which they named after him, as he had previously been part of the British National Antarctic Expedition from 1901 to 1904.