Names: and Their Meaning

Why is it called Lloyd's? Why the Green Man? Leopold Wagner traced the origins of everything the Victorians had a name for — countries, tavern signs, flowers, wines, London streets, nicknames and battles — and found a story behind nearly all of them.

London Streets and Squares

45 pages in this part of Names and Their Meaning.

London Streets and Squares

F a LEET STREET received its name from the Fleet, once a swift-flowing stream, now converted into sewer. Mitre Court, Falcon Court, and Red…

London Streets and Squares: Dorset

Bride close by. Salisbury Court occupies the site of an ancient palace of the Bishops of Salisbury. Dorset Street and Dorset Buildings…

London Streets and Squares: Gresham

Wood Street contained the residence of Sir Thomas Wood, elected Sheriff in 1491, and afterwards Lord Mayor. Lawrence Lane took its name…

London Streets and Squares: Romans

Cannon Street is a corruption of Candlewick Street, colloquially styled "Can'lwick Street," from the candlemakers who congregated in it…

London Streets and Squares: Crutched

Francis de Paula in 1453. Crutched Friars was the Priory of the Crutched, or Crossed, Friars of the Holy Trinity [see RELIGIOUS ORDERS]…

London Streets and Squares: Finke

Michael's Alley, where the first English coffeehouse was opened, took its name from the neighbouring church. Finch Lane is properly "Finke…

London Streets and Squares: Roman

Petticoat Lane, also known as Rag Fair, is the central old clothes mart of the Jewish inhabitants of the metropolis. Wormwood Street and…

London Streets and Squares: Holborn

Holborn is a contraction of "The Hollow Bourne," indicative of a stream in a hollow. In Domesday Book the name appears as "Holebourne."…

London Streets and Squares: Drury

Drury Lane derived its name from Drury House, the town residence of Sir William Drury, K.G., one of our most able commanders in quelling…

London Streets and Squares: Strand

Catherine Street, Strand, and Portugal Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, were designated in honour of Catherine of Braganza, queen of Charles…

London Streets and Squares: Essex

Devereaux Court received its title from Essex House, which also gave its name to Essex Street, the residence of Robert Devereaux, Earl of…

London Streets and Squares: Convent

Bow Street was so called on account of its bent shape when it was first laid out to connect the Strand with Oxford Street in 1637. Covent…

London Streets and Squares: Chandos

Maiden Lane was so styled on account of a statue of the Virgin that stood at the corner of this thoroughfare at the time when it skirted…

London Streets and Squares: Northumberland

Charing Cross is a perversion of "Chère Reine Cross," so named from the memorial cross erected upon the spot where the body of Eleanor, the…

London Streets and Squares: Grosvenor

Rutland Gate was designated after the mansion of the Dukes of Rutland hard by. Cumberland Gate and Duke Street, Grosvenor Square, were both…

London Streets and Squares: Berkeley

Hay Hill, Hill Street, and Farm Street mark the situation of an old farm that stood upon the lands of John, Lord Berkeley of Stratton, an…

London Streets and Squares: Regent

Regent Street was named by John Nash, the architect, after his royal patron, the Prince Regent. It was commenced in 1813. Conduit Street…

London Streets and Squares: Marlborough

Crossing Regent Street, Argyll Street marks the situation of the old town mansion of the Dukes of Argyll. Marlborough Street, Great…

London Streets and Squares: Compton

Shaftesbury Avenue is a modern thoroughfare named after Anthony Ashley Cooper, seventh Earl of Shaftesbury, who performed the opening…

London Streets and Squares: Grafton

Charlotte Street received its name in honour of the queen of George III. Bolsover Street, Great Titchfield Street, Titchfield Street…

London Streets and Squares: Harley

Oxford Street, formerly styled Oxford Road, Oxford Market, Mortimer Street, Harley Street, Edward Street, and Wigmore Street, derived their…

London Streets and Squares: Audley

North Audley Street and South Audley Street point to the existence of Hugh Audley, a barrister of the Middle Temple and owner of a landed…

London Streets and Squares: Portman

Montague of Blue Stocking fame, who, on becoming a widow, took up her residence in Portman Square close by. Orchard Street was designated…

London Streets and Squares: Ossulton

Harewood Square and Harewood Street mark the position of the town mansion of the Earls of Harewood. Lisson Grove stands on part of the land…

London Streets and Squares: Mornington

Mornington Crescent and Mornington Place were named in honour of the Earl of Mornington, Governor-General of India, the brother of the Duke…

London Streets and Squares: Gordon

Gordon Square perpetuates the memory of Lady Georgina Gordon, daughter of Alexander, fourth Duke of Gordon, and wife of John, sixth Duke of…

London Streets and Squares: Paddington

John's Wood, points to the existence of the ancient Abbey of the Holy Virgins of St. John the Baptist (see ST. JOHN'S WOOD). Desborough…

London Streets and Squares: Southwick

Southwick Crescent and Southwick Place received their names from Southwick Park, the seat of the Thistlewayte family, formerly the joint…

London Streets and Squares: Campden

Campden Hill defines the estate belonging to Campden House, still standing in Campden Square, and originally occupied by Sir Baptist Hicks…

London Streets and Squares: Chelsea

King's Road, Chelsea, was named in honour of Charles II., who caused it to be made passable, chiefly for the benefit of the frequenters of…

London Streets and Squares: Cadogan

Cadogan Street and Cadogan Square remind us that the manor of Chelsea came into the possession of the first Earl of Cadogan by right of his…

London Streets and Squares: Lowndes

Lowndes Street, Lowndes Square, and Chesham Street, Pimlico, are indebted for their title to Lowndes of the Bury, near Chesham…

London Streets and Squares: Friern

Marlborough Road, Peckham, covers the ground plot of a Marlborough House, the residence of John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough. Hanover…

London Streets and Squares: Grange

London. Thomas Street perpetuates the christian name of the philanthropic founder of Guy's Hospital hard by. Grange Road and Grange Walk…

London Streets and Squares: Bachelor

Bacchanals, The, 83 Bachelor, 231 Bachelor of Arts, 232 Bachelor's Buttons, 118 Badminton, 128 Baffin Land, 55 Bag o' Nails, The, 83 Baker…

London Streets and Squares: Bloody

Black Sea, 49 Blandford Square, N.W., 286 Blandford Street, N.W., 286 Blankets, 178 Blenheim Street, W., 282 Blind Chapel Court, E.C., 265…

London Streets and Squares: Street

Bow Street Runners, 232 Boxing Day, 168 Boycotters, 112 Boz, 182 Brahma-fowl, 99 Brahmins, 64 Brandy, 257 Brazil, 43 Bread Street, E.C…

London Streets and Squares: Square

Devonshire, 135 Devonshire House, 220 Devonshire Square, E. C., 267 Diamond, 244 Dimity, 176 Dirty Dick, 205 Dissenters, 74 Distaff's Day…

London Streets and Squares: Hyde

Humbug, 239 Humming-bird, 96 Hummuns' Hotel, 192 Hungary, 40 Huns, 40 Huntingdonshire, 136 Hurdle Race, 210 Huron, Lake, 48 Hurons, 48…

London Streets and Squares: Belle

La Belle Sauvage Inn, 187 Index.

London Streets and Squares: Diamond

Orleans House, 223 Orkney Islands, 57 Orloff Diamond, 244 Orme Square, W., 294 Osnaburg Street, N.W., 287 Ossulton Square, N.W., 287…

London Streets and Squares: Lace

Petticoat Lane, E.C., 267 Phaeton, 138 Pharisees, 65 Pheasant, The, 81 Phennig, 253 Philippic, 132 Philippe Egalité, 91 Philippine Islands…

London Streets and Squares: Church

Sackville Street, W., 281 Sacramentarians, 72 Saddlers' Arms, The, 82 Sadler's Wells, 192 Saffron Hill, E.C., 270 Sahara, 42 Sailor King…

London Streets and Squares: Swan

Swan Alley, E.C., 264 Swan, The, 81 Swan with Two Necks, The, 187 Swedish Nightingale, 196 Sweepstake, 211, Sweetbriar, 118 Switzerland, 41…

London Streets and Squares: Trinity

Trinity House, 216 Trinity Sunday, 170 Tristan d'Acunha, 56 Trumpeter-bird, 96 Tudor, 90 Tuesday, 60 Tulle, 180 Tulip, 117 Tunis, 42…

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