The story of street names in the UK goes as far back as medieval times. During this period, and with developing infrastructure, people increasingly needed to look beyond local knowledge to identify places and individual premises. This process was made even more precise from 1765 with the introduction of street numbering. Fast forward to the modern day, and it’s still a requirement that all new properties in the UK have a house number or name and a street name for identification purposes. And what street names there are!

Up and down the UK, you’ll find so many weird and wonderful street names, as well as a sprinkling of ruder references! But, how are road and development names actually picked? As you’ll discover in the following blog post, there’s tons of inspiration that can be called upon.

A nod to history

History – local and national – plays a vital role in the naming of roads and developments. Examples can be found across our cities, towns and villages. In fact street names can often provide a glimpse into an area’s past thanks to references to local figures from history, events of importance or geographical details.

Manchester is a UK city that offers lots of historical references. Balloon Street in the centre of the city refers to the journey of the very first hot air balloon, piloted by James Sadler, in 1785. While a street simply known as ‘Scotland’ in Cheetham Hill pays homage to the slum tenements and factories that were rife throughout the area in 1838 towards the end of the Industrial Revolution.

The royal seal of approval

Unsurprisingly, there are lots of UK street names that have links to the monarchs of past and present, and with research revealing that living on such a street could help boost the value of your home, it pays to have a royal connection.

Street names that contain a royal title, royal name, or even just King, Queen, Prince or Princess are some of the most valuable around. The famous Royal Mile in Edinburgh is another regal street that has a long history. The stretch has been the traditional royal processional route for more than half a millennium.

A warm welcome

Throughout history, street names have also been used as a way to honour people from different cultures. The Welsh Streets in Toxteth, Liverpool, are a group of roads named after the Welsh workers who took up residence in the rows of Victorian terraces during the late 19th century.

Street names have long offered a warm welcome to people travelling to the area for work. Manchester’s Chinatown and Little Ireland for instance were named after the immigrants who settled there during the early 19th century and after the Second World War.

Sites of industry or innovation

Industry and innovation have often offered inspiration for street names and developments. Take, for example, Ironmonger Lane in the City of London, which references the many metalworkers who resided on the street from the medieval period onwards. Similarly, Millbank Street in Westminster is so named because of the 17th century water mill that stood on the edge of the Thames.

If we look further north, Anita Street in Ancoats, Manchester, takes its name from the word ‘sanitary’. Anita Street was particularly pioneering during its heyday and was the first street where every home had its own toilet and sink.

In Newcastle, Stephenson Street is named after the “father of railways” who pioneered the first locomotives.

Street naming rules to consider

Whatever the inspiration behind the street name, there are several rules that need to be followed. By law, no two street names in a local authority or locality can be the same, while names that sound phonetically similar are also no-nos. Streets aren’t usually named after living people either, and names that can be seen as advertisements or considered offensive are unacceptable too.

A lot of thought goes into a name, more than most people think! What does your street name tell you about your area?

If you’re looking for your dream North East home, you’re in the right place. Explore the stunning developments from Homes by Esh right here on our website, and book your appointment with us here.