How much do you know about the history of the street names of Stockbridge?How much do you know about the history of the street names of Stockbridge?
How much do you know about the history of the street names of Stockbridge?

Edinburgh Street Name Meanings: Here are the stories behind 10 Stockbridge and Comely Bank road names - from Malta Terrace to Ann Street

They are road names that many Edinburgh residents are familiar with – and each has an interesting story behind it.
By David Hepburn
Published 6th May 2022, 15:02 BST
Updated 7th Mar 2023, 09:35 BST

Edinburgh has a fascinating history dating back thousands of years, with evidence of a settlement in the Cramond area from around 8500 BC.

The city’s name comes from ‘Eidyn’, the name for the region in Cumbric – the Brittonic language spoken in the Northern England and Lowland Scotland in the Middle Ages.

At this time a stronghold on Castle Rock was called Din Eidyn, literally meaning ‘the hillfort of Eidyn’. As the Scots language evolved, the Din was replaced by ‘burh’, creating Edinburgh.

And there are plenty more clues to the Capital’s complex past in the names of the streets, roads, and lanes that make up the city, all of which come from a multitude of languages, backgrounds and people.

The name Stockbridge itself dates back to at least the first half of the 18th century and comes from the Scots ‘stock brig’, referring to a wooden footbridge that presumably crossed the Water of Leith.

Here are the stories behind 10 of the road names in the neighbourhood and the surrounding areas.

The various streets in Stockbridge with the Comely Bank moniker are named after the Cumliebank estate, which referred to the beauty of the south-facing slope overlooking Inverleith (literally a comely bank). Sir William Fettes, who owned the estate and built the first rows of terraced housing in the early 19th century, also called his mansionhouse Comely Bank House.

1. Comely Bank

The various streets in Stockbridge with the Comely Bank moniker are named after the Cumliebank estate, which referred to the beauty of the south-facing slope overlooking Inverleith (literally a comely bank). Sir William Fettes, who owned the estate and built the first rows of terraced housing in the early 19th century, also called his mansionhouse Comely Bank House. Photo: Google Maps

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Ann Street is named after the wife of Sir Henry Raeburn, Ann Edgar. She was the widow of Count Leslie, who formerly owned Old Deanhaugh House where Henry and Ann lived following their marriage.

2. Ann Street

Ann Street is named after the wife of Sir Henry Raeburn, Ann Edgar. She was the widow of Count Leslie, who formerly owned Old Deanhaugh House where Henry and Ann lived following their marriage. Photo: Google Maps

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Raeburn Place, which was first developed for housing in around 1814, is named after the painter Sir Henry Raeburn. Raeburn was born in the area in 1756 and became a hugely successful artist, serving as Portrait Painter to King George IV.

3. Raeburn Place

Raeburn Place, which was first developed for housing in around 1814, is named after the painter Sir Henry Raeburn. Raeburn was born in the area in 1756 and became a hugely successful artist, serving as Portrait Painter to King George IV. Photo: Google Maps

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Hamilton Place is named after the widow of a Dr Hamilton who moved there from London Street in 1813.

4. Hamilton Place

Hamilton Place is named after the widow of a Dr Hamilton who moved there from London Street in 1813. Photo: Google Maps

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