Straits Settlement Names

Street names in Penang Island

Penang

Named after the Pinang Tree (betel nut palm) which was found in abundance on the island.

Weld Quay:

A stretch of seafront reclaimed land from the sea and named after Sir Frederick Weld- Governor of the Straits settlement 1885-1887

Downing street:

Named after the street of the official residence of the British Prime Minister.

Beach street

Named because it was a sea-shore reclaimed land as the sea receded. It has always been the hub of trade and commerce. The Hokkien referred to it as “Thor-kor-kay” meaning the “Road of European firms.”

Farquhar Street: Named after Robert Townsend Farquhar, Governor of Penang 1804-5.

Northam Road:

Named after a place in Devonshire England. It was renamed Sultan Ahmad Shah, to commemorate the official visit of the then D.Y.M.M Yang Dipertuan Agong, Malaysia, who is from the state of Pahang.

Bishop street:

Named after Bishop Antoine Garnault – then leader of the Portuguese community who came to settle in Penang from Kuala Kedah at the invitation of Captain Francis Light. Locally known as “Char Bok Kay”.

Kuala Kangsar Road:

Formerly called “Bangsawan Kay” because bagsawan shows were staged there in the 1920s.

Church Street: Named after the St. George’s Church

Cintra Street:

Also known as “Jepun Huay Kay” in Hokkien, derived its named from the many Japanese & Korean who were staying there. It is named after a town in Portugal.

Pitt street:

Named after William Pitt the Younger, the then Prime Minister of England. Renamed Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Keling after the mosque.




Carnarvon Street:

Named after Lord Carnarvon, the then Foreign Secretary of England. Popularly known as Lam Chan Nah in Hokkien.

Prangin Road:

Also known as “Tiau Kio Than” because of the suspension bridge over the ditch at Penang Road and Burma Road junction. It has now been renamed Jalan Lim Chwee Leong – after the name of the father of a former Chief Minister of Penang, Dr Lim Chong Eu.

Light Street : Named after Captain Francis Light.

Burma Road:

So named because of a Burmese village in the past. It was earlier known to locals as Jalan Tarik Air to Malays and “Gu Chia Chooi” to the Hokkien as this was the road on which bullock carts used to carry water for household use.

Macalister Road:

Named after Col. Norman Macalister – Governor Penang 1807 – 10. He was one of the confidantes of Captain Light.

Peel Avenue:

Named after William Peel – the acting Councillor of Penang 26th February – 30th September 1917.

Dato Kramat Road:

Named after the Bugis traveller, a saint known as Dato Kramat, who was the first Muslim to be buried at the Perak Road Muslim cemetery in 1705.

Jelutong Road: Derived its name from the “Jelutong Tree”.

Vermont Road:

Named after Ben Vermont, a prominent European leader of Batu Kawan Sugar plantation.

Batu Ferringhi:

“Perinzi” or Ferringhi was used by Malays to denote “Franks” i.e Europeans, especially the Portuguese. Thus Batu Ferringhi – Portuguese Rock.

Tanjung Bunga: Derived its name from the many bungalows with their beautiful flowers.

Tanjung Tokong:

Derived its name from one of the earliest Chinese Temples on the island, the “Tua Pek Kong” temple. The phrase Tua Peh Kong was assimilated into the Malay Language as Topekong or simply Tokong.



Brown Garden, Brown Road:

Named after David Brown – 1778 – 1881. In the past, one of the richest man and by far the largest land owner on the island. He is the donor of 12 acres of land known as Padang Brown or simply “Padang” to Penangites. A large monument was erected at the padang to his memory.

Cheeseman Road:

Named after H.A.R. Chesseman, the man responsible for the opening of four English schools in Penang. – the High School, BM, The Government Commercial Sch, Hutchings sch and Wellesly Primary school.

Jalan C. Y. Choy: Named after the 3rd Mayor of Georgetown – 1964 – 1966.


Ah Quee Street :

Named after Chung Keng Kwee/Kooi – 1829 to 1901, the Head man of the Hai San Society in Penang and Larut from 1860s – 1884 and one of the signatories of the Pangkor Engagement between the Chinese faction on 20/1/1874.

Leith Street: Named after Sir George Leith, Lieutenant Governor of Penang, 1800 – 1803

Hargreaves Road:

Named after W. Hargreaves, the first English graduate to serve as the Headmaster of Penang Free School. He started in 1891 and served for almost 13 years.

Khoo Sian Ewe Road:

Named after Khoo Sian Ewe 1886 – 1964, a philanthropic land proprietor, entrepreneur and longest-serving President of the Penang Chinese Town Hall.

Rifle Range Road:

Derived its name from the nearby shooting range used by the military forces before “Merdeka” day.

Thean Teik Road:

Named after Khoo Thean Teik 1826-1891, the leader of the Tua Pek Kong Society after 1860. He ignited the Penang Riots of 1867 to challenge the supremacy of the Ghee Hin Kongsi.

Kek Chuan Road:

Named after Lim Kek Chuan 1858 – 1907, the co-founder and first President of the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

Logan Road:

Named after James Rochardson Logan, the man who wrote “The Journal of the India Archipelago and Eastern Asia” and “the Language and Ethnology of the Indian Archipelago”, a work which for the first time dignified the Malays (or more properly the Nusantara) people by indicating to them their proud position among the most ancient and civilised races on Earth.

Phuah Hin Leong Road:

Named after a wealthy land proprietor, Phuah Hin Leong 1844-1901, the first rice miller and oil-miller of Penang.

Pinhorn Road:

Named after R.H. Pinhorn. OBE, MA., returned to be the longest serving Headmaster of Penang Free School, 1905-1925

Jalan P. Ramlee

Named after P. Ramlee, AMN, 1928- 1973, the sole person who dominated the entertainment scene of the country, a comedian dramatist, composer, singer, instrumentalist, actor, film director and teacher of his art.

Was formerly known as Caunter Hall, named after George Caunter – Magistrate and Acting Superintendent in 1797, Acting Governor 1796.

Birch Road: Named after J.R.Birch, a Resident Councillor of Penang in the 1890s.

Gurney Drive:

Named after the District Judge in Penang. He was also the Municipal Commissioner – retired in 1925.

Codrington Avenue:

Named after a District Judge in Penang. He was also the Municipal Commisioner – retired in 1824.

Fettes Road:

Named after J.D. Fettes, the Municipal Water Engineer responsible for the construction of the Batu Ferringhi 4 mile long aqueduct in 1924.

Gottlieb Road: Named after Felix Henry Gottlieb, the first Harbour Master of Penang.

Hutton Lane: Named after Dr. Hutton, then only registered doctor in Penang in 1805.

Maxwell Road:

Named after Sir W.E. Maxwell, Resident Commissioner of Penang. Renamed as Jalan Dr. Lim Chwee Leong.

Anson Road:

Named after Major General Sir Archibald E.H. Anson, last Lieutenant Governor of Penang, 1876.