Whether you are a native to the city or visiting for a short period of time, some of Glasgow’s well known streets and place names can have you thinking about where they got their names from.
Some of the places and streets on this list come from either Scots or Gaelic, whilst others have a much deeper story to tell with events and figures of the past all playing a part in the Glasgow story.
Here is a list of 14 places and streets which have a particular back story to them that make up the fibre of the city.
Here is a list of 14 places and streets which have a particular back story to them that make up the fibre of the city.
![The Calton can be found to the east of the city centre with two of its most famous landmarks being the Barrowland Ballroom and Barras market. Scottish folk singer Matt McGinn also hailed from the Calton. The area was originally known as Blackfauld before being named after the Gaelic term Coillduin which means ‘wood on the hill’.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/04/28/14/IMG_6839.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=400)
5. Calton
The Calton can be found to the east of the city centre with two of its most famous landmarks being the Barrowland Ballroom and Barras market. Scottish folk singer Matt McGinn also hailed from the Calton. The area was originally known as Blackfauld before being named after the Gaelic term Coillduin which means ‘wood on the hill’. | Facebook
6. Maryhill
The area in the north west of the city is named after Mary Hill who was the daughter of Hew Hill who was the Laird of Gairbraid and had no male son to leave his estate to. Robert Carlyle is amongst some of Maryhill’s most notable people along with Bertie Auld, Donovan and David McCallum. | Moviestore/Shutterstock
![There are mixed views as to where the name of the Gorbals comes from with some believing it derives from the Latin word ‘garbale’ which means sheaf whereas others think it’s from the lowland Scots word gorbal or garbal which means ‘unfledged bird’ which would refer to leapers who would have lived in the areas hospital from 1350 onwards. Benny Lynch originated from the Gorbals and is considered to be the greatest boxer Scotland has ever produced.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/07/03/13/newFile-3.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
7. Gorbals
There are mixed views as to where the name of the Gorbals comes from with some believing it derives from the Latin word ‘garbale’ which means sheaf whereas others think it’s from the lowland Scots word gorbal or garbal which means ‘unfledged bird’ which would refer to leapers who would have lived in the areas hospital from 1350 onwards. Benny Lynch originated from the Gorbals and is considered to be the greatest boxer Scotland has ever produced. | Getty Images
![Castle Street is found in one of the oldest parts of Glasgow with Glasgow Cathedral being located on it. The street was opened in 1100 and was the highway to the Bishop’s Palace or Castle.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjU5M2RiYjU3LTRjYWQtNDY4YS1iZDk3LTkyZDUyYzI4NTRkNzo1YzI5NGNmMy1iNzYyLTRlODItODUwMy0zMGYxMWE2NDY1NzA=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
8. Castle Street
Castle Street is found in one of the oldest parts of Glasgow with Glasgow Cathedral being located on it. The street was opened in 1100 and was the highway to the Bishop’s Palace or Castle. Photo: Shutterstock