Greenwich Village, affectionately known simply as “The Village,” is one of New York City’s most beloved neighborhoods—famed for its bohemian history, jazz clubs, literary legacy, and cobblestone charm. Unlike much of Manhattan’s rigid grid, the Village’s streets twist and turn unpredictably, echoing its early days as a pastoral hamlet. But beyond its quirks of geography lies a lesser-known story: the origins of its street names. From Revolutionary War heroes to influential landowners and long-lost farms, the names etched into its street signs offer a fascinating glimpse into the past.
A Village Before the Grid
Before the Commissioners’ Plan of 1811 imposed the grid on Manhattan, Greenwich Village developed organically. It was once a separate settlement—existing as a country retreat for New Yorkers escaping lower Manhattan’s disease and congestion. The streets here were laid out with little concern for uniformity, winding through former cow paths and property lines. As a result, the names of these streets often reflect the people and stories embedded in the neighborhood’s formative years.
Christopher Street: A Colonial Landowner’s Legacy
One of the Village’s most famous and historic thoroughfares is Christopher Street, best known today as the heart of LGBTQ+ pride thanks to the Stonewall Inn and the events of 1969. But long before the rebellion that sparked a civil rights movement, the street was named after Charles Christopher Amos, a local landowner. The name “Christopher” likely stuck because of the street’s prominence and its connection to nearby Amos Street (now West 10th Street). Amos owned a large estate in the area, and his name once adorned several nearby streets, though most were later renamed.
Jane Street: A Tribute to a Sister
Charming and peaceful Jane Street owes its name to Jane Amos, sister of Charles Christopher Amos. In the early 19th century, it was common for streets to be named after family members of influential landowners. Jane Street’s name has persisted since at least the early 1800s, evoking a genteel quality that still characterizes this block today with its Federal-style townhouses and leafy sidewalks.
Bedford Street: From a London Street to a Village Lane
Bedford Street in Greenwich Village, mapped prior to 1799, takes its name from Bedford Street in London, establishing a transatlantic link to British aristocracy. The London street was named in the mid-17th century after Francis Russell, the Fourth Earl of Bedford, who played a key role in developing the Covent Garden area. The Earl of Bedford title dates back to 1138, making it one of the older noble titles in England. In naming the New York street, early city planners or developers likely drew inspiration from the British capital, a common practice in colonial and post-colonial America, lending Bedford Street in the Village a sense of inherited prestige that belies its quiet, residential charm today.
MacDougal Street: A Revolutionary Hero Remembered
MacDougal Street (sometimes spelled McDougal in old records) honors Alexander MacDougal, a Revolutionary War general, merchant, and politician. A fervent patriot, MacDougal was imprisoned by the British for his anti-Loyalist publications and later rose to prominence as a general in George Washington’s army. Naming the street after him was a way of embedding the city’s revolutionary spirit into its geography.
Thompson Street: Named for a Loyalist?
Thompson Street presents a bit of a historical irony. It’s widely believed to have been named after William Thompson, a prominent Loyalist who served in the British administration before the American Revolution. This makes it a curious inclusion among streets otherwise dominated by patriotic references. Alternatively, some historians suggest the name may refer to General William Thompson of Pennsylvania, who fought for the Continental Army.
Commerce Street: A Mysterious Misnomer
Short and curving like a stream through old farmland, Commerce Street is a paradox. Despite its name, it was never a commercial hub. The name was likely chosen either aspirationally or by developers attempting to make the area sound more prosperous. Ironically, the street has always been more residential and is now one of the Village’s most picturesque corners, home to the off-Broadway Cherry Lane Theatre, founded in 1924 and still operating today.
Other Noteworthy Streets
Bleecker Street is among the most recognizable names in the Village. It was named after the Bleecker family, specifically Anthony Lispenard Bleecker, a wealthy banker and landowner whose family once owned farmland in the area. Bleecker Street has since become synonymous with music and counterculture, with venues like Bitter End and Cafe Bizarre.
Hudson Street, running along the west side of the Village, was named for Henry Hudson, the English sea explorer who navigated the river that now bears his name in 1609. The street traces what was once the edge of the island before landfill extended the shoreline.
Grove Street, another small and charming lane, likely gets its name from a grove of trees that once stood nearby. The name evokes a bucolic past when the area was still dotted with orchards and open land.
Waverly Place, which crosses at an angle near Washington Square Park, was named after Sir Walter Scott’s 1814 novel Waverley. The popularity of the book led to a brief trend of naming streets after literary works, and Waverly Place is one of the few remaining examples.
Washington Place honors George Washington, established as a patriotic gesture after the Revolution. Washington took the oath of office in nearby Federal Hall and lived at Richmond Hill in the Village, which became John Adams’ home when he became the vice-president.
Gay Street, a short and winding lane nestled between Christopher and Waverly Place, has a name that predates its modern LGBTQ+ connotation. First appearing on maps in the early 19th century, the origin of the name remains somewhat mysterious. One theory suggests it was named after a local family with the surname Gay, while others believe it may have simply referred to the cheerful character of the street itself—“gay” being a common term for lively or pleasant in that era. By the 1830s, the street was lined with Federal-style homes, many of which still stand today. Though unrelated to LGBTQ+ history by name, Gay Street’s proximity to the Stonewall Inn and Christopher Street has given it a serendipitous symbolic resonance.
Barrow Street traces its name to Thomas Barrow, a wealthy merchant and vestryman of Trinity Church who once owned land in the area during the late 18th century. As the Village expanded northward, the street was laid through his estate, and his name was preserved as a nod to his local influence. Today, Barrow Street is known for its quiet elegance and artistic pedigree—home to the historic Barrow Street Theatre and a favored address for poets and playwrights.
Barrow is perhaps best known for his painting of Trinity Church, which was built in 1698, after it was burned to the ground during the American Revolution in the Great Fire of New York in 1776. Alexander Hamilton is buried at the current Trinity Church, which was rebuilt in 1790 and again in 1846.
Cornelia Street, one of the Village’s most narrow lanes, likely takes its name from Cornelia Haring Jones, a member of a prominent family that owned land in the area in the early 19th century. The name first appeared on maps around 1829. Though its origins are somewhat obscure, Cornelia Street has become iconic in popular culture, known for its quaint townhouses and intimate vibe—and more recently, immortalized in a song by Taylor Swift that renewed interest in this tucked-away area. She also rented a home on Cornelia Street in 2016 when her Tribeca apartment was under construction.
The Village’s Streets as a Living Museum
What makes the street names of Greenwich Village so fascinating isn’t just their etymology—it’s how each one captures a piece of New York’s evolving identity—something Manhattan’s grid numbers do not offer. Streets named for Loyalists and Patriots coexist, just as former farmland now hosts record shops, art galleries, and historic brownstones. Walking the Village is like paging through a living history book.
From Jane and Christopher to MacDougal and Commerce, the street names of Greenwich Village preserve a mosaic of New York City’s early development. They recall a time when the neighborhood was more country than city, shaped by a patchwork of private estates, farm paths, and emerging national ideals.
