Bryce Canyon National Park is named after Ebenezer Bryce. He is credited with aiding the settlement of Southeastern Utah and Northern Arizona. He came in the mid 1870's looking to harvest timber from the plateau. His neighbors called the great canyon in his backyard Bryce Canyon. That is how Bryce Canyon got it's name. Bryce Canyon is not actually a canyon because it is not carved by flowing water, even though there is water there.