How the streets of Georgetown got their names

On May 5, 1812, when Essequibo, Berbice and Demerara were united under the British, the town, named Stabroek under Dutch rule, was renamed Georgetown in honour of English monarch George IV.
Constructed from the quagmire of the low coastline that threatened or brought regular flooding, the city landscape would be built to become what was then considered, according to historian James Rodway’s “Handbook of British Guiana”, the “handsomest city in the West Indies”.
Georgetown’s wards and streets were usually given names in honour of historic persons of the time as well as names of geographic areas in the country. Most often, wards were named after its owners, who were usually plantation owners.
Cummingsburg
Cummingsburg, a ward of the city once known as Plantation La Bourgade Cummingsburg, was named after its owner Thomas Cumming, a Scotsman. The ward contains streets also named after historic figures.
Waterloo Street was named after Admiral Wellington’s great battle and victory at Waterloo against the French forces on June 18, 1815, and Carmichael Street was named in honour of General Hugh Lyle Carmichael who served as governor of the colony from 1812 – 1813.
The reservoir in Main Street was filled up and converted into a walkway in 1897, and named the Queen Victoria Promenade by the Mayor and Town Council in honour of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee (this area is now known as Main Street Avenue).
Thomas Street derived its name from its location as the main road to Plantation Thomas, while East Street received its name because of its easterly location in the ward.
Cummings Street was formerly known as the back dam (Cummingsburg Backdam) of Plantation La Bourgade.
Middle Street derives its name from being the middle dam of Plantation La Bourgade. New Market Street received its name as it led to the new market; and Church Street as it was the primary route used by citizens for access to St Georges Church.
This naming system remains today: Quamina Street (formerly Murray Street, named in honour of Major General John Murray) was renamed in honour of a slave who has become one of Guyana’s national heroes.
Kingston
When the British captured the colony, the estate of Eve Leary, a widow who had inherited it from her late husband Cornelius Leary, became a garrison for British soldiers.
The names of streets such as Parade Street, Barrack Street and Fort Street reflect this military heritage, while Duke Street was so named in honour of one of the royal dukes, son of King George II. Some claim that Kingston was named in honour of Lieutenant Robert Kingston who constructed Fort St. George, and others claim it was named after King George.
Robbstown
Robbstown was uniquely named, not after its owner, who was Joseph Bourda, but its designer, John Robb, who arranged the building lots and landscape.
Robb Street is named after John Robb and Hinks Street is named after former governor (1862-1868) Sir Francis Hinks, who was also finance minister to Canada.
Queenstown
This ward of Georgetown was named after Queen Victoria and was purchased in 1887 by the town council from a planter named Quintin Hogg, to protect the city from unsanitary pigpens and prevent the erection of poorly constructed buildings by its proprietor.
In the jubilee year of Queen Victoria, the town council proposed that the streets be named after the Queens children. But this decision was not favourably received by the inhabitants of the ward.
Subsequently, Laluni and Anira Streets were named after tributaries of the Lama River, also a tributary of the Mahaica River. Peter Rose Street bears the name of a former member of the Court of Policy. Forshaw Street was named after former city mayor George Anderson Forshaw.
Almond Street was named after an almond tree, and Crown Street was named in honour of the crown. (National Trust of Guyana)
On May 5, 1812, when Essequibo, Berbice and Demerara were united under the British, the town, named Stabroek under Dutch rule, was renamed Georgetown in honour of English monarch George IV. Constructed from the quagmire of the low coastline that threatened or brought regular flooding, the city landscape would be built to become what was then considered, according to historian James Rodway’s “Handbook of British Guiana”, the “handsomest city in the West Indies”. Georgetown’s wards and streets were usually given names in honour of historic persons of the time as well as names of geographic areas in the country. Most often, wards were named after its owners, who were usually plantation owners.
CummingsburgCummingsburg, a ward of the city once known as Plantation La Bourgade Cummingsburg, was named after its owner Thomas Cumming, a Scotsman. The ward contains streets also named after historic figures.Waterloo Street was named after Admiral Wellington’s great battle and victory at Waterloo against the French forces on June 18, 1815, and Carmichael Street was named in honour of General Hugh Lyle Carmichael who served as governor of the colony from 1812 – 1813.The reservoir in Main Street was filled up and converted into a walkway in 1897, and named the Queen Victoria Promenade by the Mayor and Town Council in honour of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee (this area is now known as Main Street Avenue).Thomas Street derived its name from its location as the main road to Plantation Thomas, while East Street received its name because of its easterly location in the ward.Cummings Street was formerly known as the back dam (Cummingsburg Backdam) of Plantation La Bourgade.Middle Street derives its name from being the middle dam of Plantation La Bourgade. New Market Street received its name as it led to the new market; and Church Street as it was the primary route used by citizens for access to St Georges Church.This naming system remains today: Quamina Street (formerly Murray Street, named in honour of Major General John Murray) was renamed in honour of a slave who has become one of Guyana’s national heroes.
Kingston When the British captured the colony, the estate of Eve Leary, a widow who had inherited it from her late husband Cornelius Leary, became a garrison for British soldiers.The names of streets such as Parade Street, Barrack Street and Fort Street reflect this military heritage, while Duke Street was so named in honour of one of the royal dukes, son of King George II. Some claim that Kingston was named in honour of Lieutenant Robert Kingston who constructed Fort St. George, and others claim it was named after King George.
Robbstown Robbstown was uniquely named, not after its owner, who was Joseph Bourda, but its designer, John Robb, who arranged the building lots and landscape.Robb Street is named after John Robb and Hinks Street is named after former governor (1862-1868) Sir Francis Hinks, who was also finance minister to Canada.
Queenstown This ward of Georgetown was named after Queen Victoria and was purchased in 1887 by the town council from a planter named Quintin Hogg, to protect the city from unsanitary pigpens and prevent the erection of poorly constructed buildings by its proprietor.In the jubilee year of Queen Victoria, the town council proposed that the streets be named after the Queens children. But this decision was not favourably received by the inhabitants of the ward.Subsequently, Laluni and Anira Streets were named after tributaries of the Lama River, also a tributary of the Mahaica River. Peter Rose Street bears the name of a former member of the Court of Policy. Forshaw Street was named after former city mayor George Anderson Forshaw.Almond Street was named after an almond tree, and Crown Street was named in honour of the crown. (National Trust of Guyana)