Place Names

 Place Names Reflect Immigration Patterns

Place names in southern Hastings are generally of English origin, reflecting the preferences of Lt.-Gov. John Graves Simcoe, the English and Scottish surveyors who surveyed the country and the English Loyalist settlers from the American colonies. Many of these place names date from the first waves of settlement in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The story of Irish immigration of the 1830s to the 1850s is told in place names further north. Following the colonization roads in search of land they could call their own, Irish immigrants marked their new homeland with place names recalling the old country. Maynooth, Murphys Corners, Queensborough, and the townships of Mayo, Carlow, Limerick, Cashel, Dungannon and Monteagle all have their roots in Ireland. There are relatively few names of Indian origin, perhaps because the county was sparsely inhabited by natives. Baptiste Lake, Deseronto, LKentio, an Indian village.

Many place names were determined by postal authorities and some by railways. Often a place name would be changed by an arbitrary decision by the post office or railway officials. Places could be named after a family that owned a significant amount of property. Post Offices were often named after the first postmaster, who might have been one of the few in the community who could read and write. Other places were named after political dignitaries, or faraway places in Ireland or England. Some of the origins have been lost in time.

Actinolite

Formerly known as Troy, then Bridgewater.

Albert

Named after Albert, Prince Consort to Queen Victoria. Also known as Jones Settlement.

Algonquin Provincial Park

Created in 1893 by provincial legislation. Named after the Algonquin nation which had once occupied area.

Allan

Source unknown.

Anson

Named for early settler Anson Cummings. Also Anson Junction.

Bancroft

Named by Senator Billa Flint in 1879 after his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Ann Bancroft Clement. Originally York River, then York Mills.

Bangor Township

Named in 1859 after the city of Bangor in Carnarvonshire, Wales.

Bannockburn

Local legend says the victory of a Scotsman over an Englishman in a tavern brawl reflected the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, which secured Scotland's independence from England.

Baptiste, Baptiste Lake

Probably after Indian Chief Jean (John) Baptiste, although Rayburn says a trader who used the name Jean Baptiste Constant may have had a post on the lake.

Bay of Quinte

Named after the Indian village of Kentio or Kenté. (See Quinte.) On early French maps it was also Bay des Couy, Baye de Couie and Lac St. Lyon. Also called Great West Bay.

Bayside

Formerly Rhinebeck. Bayside post office established in 1883.

Beachmount or Beechmount

Source unknown.

Belleville

Named in 1816 after Annabella (Bella) Gore, wife of Lt.-Gov. Francis Gore. Formerly Singleton's Creek, then Meyers' Creek.

Bell Rapids

Post office established 1905.

Bessemer

Once a small iron-mining town in Mayo Township; named after the English metallurgist Sir Henry Bessemer who is credited with developing the process of steel-making.

Bicroft

An improvement district named after the merger of two ("bi") mines - Centre Lake Uranium Mines Ltd. and Croft Uranium Mines Ltd.

Bird's Creek

Apparently honouring a surveyor named Bird who had difficulty crossing the watercourse at this location.

Blessington

Formerly Coles Corners.

Bogart

Also Bogart's Mills, founded by Abraham L. Bogart 1853.

Bonarlaw

Named for Andrew Bonar Law (1858-1923), Canadian-born prime minister of Great Britain, 1922-1923. Formerly known as Big Springs, Bellview after hotel owner John Bell and, briefly Copac Station in 1917.

Boulter

Named in 1869 for Dr. George Henry Boulter, Conservative MPP for North Hastings 1869-1883.

Bowen Corner

Also Bowen Corners.

Bow Lake

Source unknown.

Brinklow

Also known as Brinklow Station on the Central Ontario Railway.

Bronson

Named after a Mr. Bronson, a partner in Bronson and Westoro Lumber Merchants.

Burgess Mines

Mining camp post office established in 1905.

Cannifton

John Canniff established mills here circa 1812. Formerly Canniff's Mills. For a short time (1853) the post office was registered as Bridgewater, then Cannifton in 1854.

Cardiff

Named in 1862 after the capital city of Wales.

Carlow Township

Named in 1866 after County Carlow and the town of the same name in Ireland.

Cashel Township

Named in 1860 after a town of the same name in County Tipperary, Ireland.

Canadian Forces Base Trenton

Air force base east of Trenton, used for air training, departure point for foreign aid missions, search and rescue and deployment of troops on foreign assignments.

Centreview

Post office established 1914.

Chapman

After first postmaster, Alexander Chapman, 1873.

Chatterton

Earlier known as Chattertown and Marsh Hill.

Child's Mine

Formerly Child's Mines.

Chisholm's Mills

After miller W. F. Chisholm and family.

Coe Hill

First Welch's Corners, then Salem, then Coe Hill Mines, after mine developer William Coe. Later, the name was shortened to Coe Hill.

Cooper

Earlier Allen Settlement. Post office opened in 1861, village renamed Cooper in 1908.

Corbyville

Formerly Hayden's Corners, after Dr. Hayden's inn and blacksmith establishment, circa 1822. Later Corbyville, after Henry Corby purchased the property.

Cosy Cove

Small community north of Tweed.

Crookston

After Adam Crooks, Ontario attorney general and minister of education. Post office named as such in 1887. Also Crookston Station on the Grand Trunk Railway.

Deloro

Located near the first discovery of gold in Ontario, the village name was derived from the Spanish phrase for "from gold".

Deseronto

Settled in 1784 by Mohawk Chief John Deserontyon, also known as Odeserundiye.

Detlor

First called L'Amable Station in 1902, renamed for settler William Detlor in 1904.

Duff Corners

Source unknown.

Dungannon Township

Named in 1857 after a town in County Tyrone, Ireland.

Ebenezer

Source unknown.

Egan Creek, Egan Chutes, Eganville

After John Egan, an Irish immigrant who established a huge lumber industry, gaining timber rights to all the land draining into the Madawaska Valley. He hired as many as 3,800 men in a winter in the 1840s.

Eldorado

A gold rush in 1866 inspired this village's name in 1867, after the Spanish mythical city of gold, Eldorado, "the gilded one".

Elzevir, Elzevir Township

Named in 1820, possibly by Lt.-Gov. Sir Peregrine Maitland after the Elzevir publishing family in Holland.

Empey Hill

Post office established 1908.

Faraday, Faraday Township

Named in 1857 after the British scientist Michael Faraday.

Farrell Corners

Source unknown.

Fort Stewart

The name given by John Stewart to his spacious inn. Founded about 1877, with the post office opening in 1891.

Foxboro

First called Reed's Settlement, after William Reed, then Smithville, after either Richard Smith, an early settler, or Smith Demorest. Became Foxboro in 1861.

Frankford

First called Nine Mile Rapids after the swift stretch of water in the Trent River at this point. Later known as Scott's Mills, Cold Creek and Waterford. Named by Lt.-Gov. Sir Francis Bond Head after himself in 1836.

Fuller

After first postmaster John F. Fuller, 1908.

Gilead

Just north of Belleville; post office established 1893.

Gilmour

Named in 1887 for the Gilmour Lumber Company of Trenton.

Glanmire

Post office 1858-1931.

Glen Lewis

Post office opened as Glen Lewis in 1875 with John C. Cruickshank as postmaster.

Glen Miller

Post office established in 1877 as Gordon Mills. Later Glen Millar, then Glen Miller.

Glen Ross

Formerly Chisholm's Rapids. Glen Ross post office established 1883.

Graphite

Possibly after the mineral.

Greenview

Greenview post office established in 1873. Gunter After first postmaster John H. Gunter, 1883. Also known as Gilmour, near Gilmour Station.

Halloway

After the Earl of Halloway, who apparently once visited the village. Formerly Wallbridge's Mills.

Halston

Halston post office established 1880.

Harold

Post office established 1856.

Hartsmere

In Mayo Township.

Hastings County

Named in 1792 for Francis Rawdon- Hastings, Baron Rawdon, Earl of Moira. Hence also the Moira River and Rawdon Township, both within Hastings County.

Havergal

Conroy's Farm post office established 1880, changed to Havergal in 1886.

Hazzards Corners

Post office established 1893-1914. First postmaster John G. Bleakley.

Hermon

Hermon post office established in 1877. Also Herman and New Hermon.

Hilda

Also Thresher Corners and Thrasher's Corners.

Herschel Township

Named in 1857 after Sir John Frederick William Herschel, a British astronomer and physical scientist.

Hickey Settlement

Source unknown, possibly named after a Hickey family.

High Falls

The falls outlet and dam at the lower end of Baptiste Lake, above Bancroft.

Hogan

After Dennis Hogan, first postmaster, 1900.

Honeywell Corners

Israel Honeywell and his son owned a blacksmith shop at this site. There was also a toll bridge here.

Hughes

After sawmill owner William Hughes.

Hungerford

After a title of Sir Francis Rawdon-Hastings, derived from the town of Hungerford in Berkshire.

Huntingdon, West Huntingdon

Named in 1798 for the family of Sir Francis Rawdon-Hastings' mother, Elizabeth Hastings, whose father was the Earl of Huntingdon. Huntingdonshire is found in east England.

Hybla

Founded by George Augustus Bartlett who, noticing the number of bees around, named the place after the classic Roman town of Hybla which he recalled was famous for its honey. (Source Bob Lyons.)

Ivanhoe

Post office established 1851 as St. George Hastings and also St. George Huntingdon. Changed to Ivanhoe 1857.

The Jordan

Crossing of the Jordan River.

Johnstown

Source unknown.

Kamaniskeg Lake

Recorded as Lake Kamaniskaik in 1853 by Alexander Murray. "Lake of many islands" in the Algonquin language.

Keller Bridge

Earlier Kellar's Bridge. Keller's Bridge post office established 1860.

Kingsford

Post office of Kingsford established in 1871.

Lake St. Peter

Named Porterville in 1912 but renamed Lake St. Peter in 1940 to agree with the name of Lake St. Peter station on the Central Ontario Railway.

Lake, Lake Township

Named in 1822 after Viscount Gerard Lake, British commander-in-chief in Ireland when the Irish rebellion of 1798 was put down.

L'Amable

Named after an Ojibwa chief who drowned in Lake L'Amable. It was also known as Green Corners.

Larkins

After first postmaster D. G. Larkin, 1885. Larkins after 1918.

Latta, Latta's Mills

After mill owners George and Gilbert Latta. Poucher's Mills for a short time after 1888, when the mills were purchased by Dan Poucher.

Lime Lake

Source unknown.

Limerick Township

Named in 1857 for the town of Limerick in County Limerick, Ireland.

Lodgeroom Corners

Source unknown, but the name suggests a story.

Lonsdale

Source unknown.

Lost Channel

Post office on the Moira River, opened in 1889.

Madoc, Madoc Township

The township was named in 1820 after Prince Madoc Ad Owaiin Gwynedd, probably a mythical Welsh celebrity who is reputed to have sailed to Alabama and discovered America in 1170. The village of Madoc was first called MacKenzie's Mills after Donald MacKenzie.

Madoc Junction

The intersection of the Grand Junction Railway and the Belleville and North Hastings Railway.

Malone

Located in gold mining country between Eldorado and Deloro.

Maple Leaf

Named in 1917, possibly after maple leaf badges on men serving in the First World War (Rayburn). Named by a man named Joseph Henry Davis, of whom there were three. (Source Bob Lyons.)

Marlbank

Originally Allen's Mills, later named for local deposits of marl or fine clay.

Marmora, Marmora Township

The plural of the Latin for "marble", which is found throughout the area. The village name was originally Marmora Iron Works.

Martin's Landing

Source unknown.

Marysville

Originally Tyendinaga after the township, the post office was named Marysville in 1851, after the local Holy Name of Mary Catholic parish.

Maxwell

Source unknown.

Maynooth

First Doyle's Corners, then Tara, then Oxenden, finally Maynooth in 1863 after a town in County Kildare, Ireland.

Maynooth Station

Located on the Central Ontario Railway east of Maynooth, notable for its two-storey concrete station building.

Mayo Township

Named in 1857 for County Mayo in Ireland.

McArthurs Mills

Named in 1896 after the rst postmaster, Archibald McArthur Jr.

McClure Township

Named in 1857 for Sir Robert John Le Mesurier McClure, who discovered the last link of the Northwest Passage in 1850.

McGary Flats

Also McGarry Flats.

Melrose

Melrose post office established 1848.

Meyers' Creek

After Captain John Walden Meyers, who had mills at what is now Belleville.

Millbridge

Also Mill Bridge, post office established 1860.

Milltown

Settled in 1830, east of Shannonville.

Minto

Minto post office established 1901.

Moira, Moira Lake, Moira River

The Mississauga Indians called the river Sagonaska. Later it was known as Singleton's Creek after Captain George Singleton who built a trading post on the east bank, then Meyers' Creek after Captain John Walden Meyers. Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Earl of Moira, renamed it in 1807. The original community of Moira is in County Down, Ireland.

Monck Road

Named after the colonization road on which it stands. Also Monk Road at times. Moneymore Post office established in 1861. Source unknown.

Monteagle Valley, Monteagle Township

Named in 1857 for Thomas Spring-Rice, 1st Baron Monteagle, a native of Limerick, Ireland.

Mount Pleasant

One of several in Ontario.

Murphys Corners

After the Charles Murphy family which emigrated from Dublin, Ireland.

Musclow

The Musclow family emigrated to Canada from Germany in 1864. The original family name of Musenlus went through a number of changes Muscolo, Muskello, Musinlus, Musklows, Musclow.

Myrehall

Post office established in 1870.

New Carlow

After a town in Ireland. See Carlow Township.

Nugent

After first postmaster Thomas Nugent in 1880.

Oak Lake

Unusual lake atop a hill in Sidney Township.

Ormsby

First known as Rathbun, also Rathbun Station, after the Rathbun Lumber Company. Developed in the 1880s as the railway transfer point for goods and passengers travelling to Bancroft by road. Post office established 1885 as Rathbun Station, changed to Ormsby in 1886. Source of "Ormsby" unknown.

Otter Creek

Post office established in 1900.

Paudash, Paudash Lake

After Chief George Paudash, leader of a Mississauga Indian band.

Parkhouse

Originally Hungerford post office in 1845, changed to Parkhouse in 1899.

Phillipston

Also Phillipstown (1873), formerly Thurlow post office.

Plainfield

Once called Yankee Mills, also Latta's Mills and Latta's Hills.

Point Anne

Post office established in 1906.

Porterville

See Lake St. Peter.

Poucher's Mills (Latta)

Also Latties and Latties Mills, then Latta.

Purdy

Post office established 1864 as Purdy.

Queensborough

First settled in the 1830s and called Cooksookie. Named in 1854 after Queensborough on the River Boyne. Also Queensboro.

Quinte

Variation of Kenté or Kentio, an Indian village in the Bay of Quinte area chosen by French priests (Order of St. Sulpice) as a missionary and trading post in 1668.

Quinte West

Formed in 1998 by the amalgamation of the Town of Trenton, the Village of Frankford and the Townships of Sidney and Murray.

Rawdon Township

Named in 1798 for Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Baron Rawdon (1783), Earl of Moira (1793), Marquess of Hastings (1817).

Read

Robert Read was the first MP for Hastings East, 1867-1871. In 1869 he obtained daily mail service and a new post office for the area; the post office was named Read.

Restholme

Near St. Ola, also known as Amery.

Rimington

After first postmaster John Rimington, 1872.

River Valley

A self-described community along the Trent River south of Stirling.

Rose Island

Post office established in 1887.

Roslin

Once called Willsonburg, after Dr. B. S. Willson. Roslin may have been taken from early (1837) resident John Roslin. Also known as "The Corners", being on the corners of four townships Hungerford, Huntingdon, Thurlow and Tyendinaga.

Rossmore T

he point in Ameliasburg Township from which ferries, and now the Norris Whitney Bridge, connected to Belleville from Prince Edward County. Also known at times as Ferry Point, Moon's Point, Hennesey's Point and Wilkinsville.

Rowland

Post office established in 1872.

Sagonaska or Sagonashkokan

The Mississauga Indian name for the Moira River.

Scotch Bush

Nearest post office was Dubreuil (1895).

Scott Settlement

Source unknown.

Shannonville

First called Mohawkwoods, then Merchison's Mills, then Shannonville (1833) after the Shannon River. That waterway, which had been named after the River Shannon in Ireland, is now called the Salmon River. Shanick Also known as Bailey's Corners, after first postmaster James Bailey. At one time Shannick. Shaw Post office established in 1910.

Sidney Township

Named in 1787 after Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney, British secretary of state for the home department. Sine After first postmaster David Sine, 1886.

Singleton's Creek

After Captain George Singleton who built a trading post on the east bank of the Moira River at what is now Belleville.

Smithville (Foxboro)

After either Richard Smith, an early settler, or Smith Demorest. Became Foxboro in 1861.

Spring Brook

Known as Forest House until post office was established as Spring Brook in 1873. Also Springbrooke and Spring Brook Station.

St. George

See Ivanhoe.

St. Ola

Named in 1870 after the parish of Kirkwall and St. Ola on the Orkney Island of Mainland. St. Ola is derived from the name of the Russian Saint Olga. Steenburg Lake Summer post office established in 1965.

Stirling

Also known as Fidlar's Mills, Sheldon Mills and Rawdon Mills. Rawdon post office (1832) was changed to Stirling in 1852, after Stirlingshire in Scotland.

Stoco, Stoco Lake

Named after Mississauga chief Stougcong, who supposedly killed a Mohawk chief. Sulphide Post office established in 1912.

Tara

See Maynooth.

Thanet

Thanet was also referred to as McKilligans in 1875 (Crown Land Report) and McKilliean's Corners in 1873 (Crown Land Report). Thanet was mentioned as a post office in the 1877 Crown Land Report. (Source MNR.) Post office 1865-1970; early postmaster was Benjamin McKillican. Also known as McKillican's Stand.

The Flats

Earlier Zingham Flats, after Zoab Zingham from Belleville, who cleared his land about 1866.

The Ridge

Prominent geographic feature and good farming area of Wollaston Township.

The Riffles

Where the water riffles through the narrows from Elephant Lake into Baptiste Lake.

Thurlow, Thurlow Township

After Edward Thurlow, Baron Thurlow of Ashfield and Thurlow in Suffolk, England, holder of many British ministerial positions. Named in 1787.

Thomasburg

Named in 1853 after three pioneer Thomases Thomas Clare, Thomas Nichols and Thomas Graham.

Thrasher's Corners

Scene of an extraordinary combat between Mr. Thrasher, father of the clerk of the township, and two full-grown bears, both of which he killed with a club. See also Hilda.

Thwaite

After postmistress Mrs. D. W. Thwaite, 1882.

Trenton

At various times River Trent, Port Trent, Trent Port and Trentown. Incorporated as Trenton in 1853.

Trent River

After the River Trent in central England. Known to the Mississauga as Sangichiwigewonk, "fast-flowing".

Tudor Township

Named in 1822 after the House of Tudor, founded by Henry VII.

Tuftsville

After first postmaster Stephen Tufts, 1884.

Turriff

Named for John Turriff, an early settler.

Tweed

Originally Monro Mills and Hungerford Mills, renamed after the River Tweed in 1832.

Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, Tyendinaga Township

The township was named in 1800 for Joseph Brant, whose Mohawk name was Thayendanegea.

Umphraville (Umfraville)

Author Bob Lyons says it was named after a village in Ireland. Unfortunately, no one really knows. Settled by brothers Patrick and Dermot "Darby" Kavanagh.

Vansickle

After first postmaster David Vansickle, 1898.

Vardy

Formerly Vardy Settlement.

Wallbridge

Named in 1863 after Lewis Wallbridge, a moderate reformer who was then Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the province of Canada.

Wellman

Also Wellman's Corners.

Wicklow Township

Named in 1857 after County Wicklow in Ireland.

White Lake

Source unknown.

Whitney

Developed in 1895 by the St. Anthony Lumber Company. Named after company president Edward Canfield Whitney, brother of Sir James Pliny Whitney, Ontario premier 1905-1914.

Wollaston Township

Named in 1857 for William Hyde Wollaston, a British chemist and physicist. Wood Formerly Paudash Lake.

York River

An early name for Bancroft, now a community identification north of Bancroft; the river that flows from Baptiste Lake to the Madawaska River.

Zion Hill

Northeast of Foxboro. Source unknown.

Much of this information is drawn from Alan Rayburn's Place Names of Ontario, published by University of Toronto Press, and from the monumental work of Floreen Ellen Carter, U.E., Place Names of Ontario, published by Phelps Publishing Company, London, Ontario.