Ivy Creek, Roaring Creek, Coxes Branch, Lickskillet Branch, Little Dan River, Peters Creek, Bonds Branch, Newman Branch, Seven Island Creek, Snow Creek, Blackies Branch, Reed Creek, Beaver Island Creek, Mayo River, Buffalo Creek, Matrimony Creek, Smith River, Covenant Branch, Cascade Creek, Trotters Creek, Childress Creek, Sandy River, Fall Creek, Barkers Branch, Hances Branch, Coy Creek, Cane Creek, Mineral Springs Branch, Sandy Creek, Wolfe Creek, Barker Creek, Double Creek, Byrds Branch, Toby Creek, Little Toby Creek, Birch Creek, Miry Creek, Pond Branch, Poplar Creek, Reedy Creek, Banister River, Peter Creek, Line Branch
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Quaker Field Branch, Toggle Creek, Mill Creek, Round Meadow, Squall Creek, Squirrel Creek, Fall Creek, Big Branch, Big Creek, Double Creek, Cascade Creek, Indian Creek, Scott Branch, Town Fork Creek, Belews Creek, Hogans Creek, Jacobs Creek, Massy Creek, Roach Creek, Fishing Creek, Town Creek, Rock Creek, White Oak Creek, Williamson Creek, Wolf Island Creek, Jackson Branch, Pumpkin Creek, Hogans Creek, Moon Creek, Rattlesnake Creek, Little Rattlesnake Creek, Country Line Creek, Winns Creek, Powells Creek, Chalmers Creek, Locust Creek, Lawsons Creek, Perrin Creek, Grassy Creek, Chatman Branch, Lick Branch, Hyco River, Aarons Creek
The name of the river was first recorded by William Byrd II in 1728, during an expedition to survey the Virginia border, though Byrd did not explain the reason for the name.[6] A variant name is "South Branch Roanoke River".[7]
Dan River is also the name of the southeastern political district of Pittsylvania County, where a small section of the river serves as the boundary between Pittsylvania County and the city of Danville.