This northern lake was named in honour of Leigh Brintnell (1895-1971) of Edmonton. Born in Belleville, Ontario, he served as pilot instructor in the Royal Flying Corps and its successor, the Royal Air Force in 1916-1918. He was pilot for the Ontario Provincial Air Service in 1924-1927. He moved to Winnipeg to become manager of Western Canadian Airways (1928-1931). During the 1930s, as head of Mackenzie Air Service Ltd., he made several pioneering flights into the north including the amazing flight from Winnipeg to Alaska and back via the Northwest Territories crossing the mountains between Aklavik and Dawson, Yukon. During World War II, Brintnell was president of Northwest Industries. In 1946 he was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire. In 1975 he was admitted to the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame. This is one of a number of lakes in the area named after bush pilots. (see also Berry Lake, Calder Lake, Dickins Lake, Farrell Lake, Lake May, McConachie Lake, McMillan Lake, McMullen Lake, Randall Lake and Sawle Lake)

Approximately 55 km north of Slave Lake.