Historical volcanic eruptions in Canary Islands have traditionally been considered as quiet eruptions, mostly effusive and with scant explosions (VEI 1-2), attending to the general characteristics of this volcanism. Nevertheless, the geological record of these eruptions shows abundant signs of moderately explosive activity with PDC desposits and bombs and blocks of considerable size outcropping in the islands. Scientific studies of Canarian historical volcanism have been focused on the analysis of the volcanic processes and the assessment of related hazards, paying special attention to the monitoring of volcanic activity in the last few years. However, there is hardly any data of their effects on the population, like number of victims, affected people, displaced, emigrated, damage to the crops, lands, animals, etc. In general, there is also no accurate information on the actions of authorities or on the crises management. The knowledge of the impacts caused by volcanic eruptions provides very significant information to be prepared for future eruptions, and can be found in documentary sources, both handwritten and printed and graphic, in official or private documentation. The analysis of these historical chronicles has shed light on these aspects not previously considered neither by the authorities nor the scientist or general public. The results of this research examining the historical chronicles shows that, contrary to what is generally believed, historical eruptions in Canary Islands did cause several impacts both on the population (dead, injured or missing, displaced and evacuated), and on the economy (damage to crops, livestock, buildings, roads and various infrastructures). The historical documents also highlight that there was indeed crisis management, both from the political and scientific authorities in most of the eruptions. From all these we can conclude that no social interpretation has been made about the legacy of historical eruptions in Canary Islands nor about the impact they had. We should implement this knowledge in the prevention and emergency plans made by the authorities for a better management of future eruptions, considering the population increase in the Canary Islands from ca. 360000 inhabitants in 1900 up to ca. 2.13 millions in 2018, plus some millions of tourists (15.5 in 2018).