Avoneil (sic) is recorded as the name of a house in 1854. It was the residence of Dr. Robert McKibbin, owner of Connswater Mill. In August 1854 he went bankrupt and had to sell up. It appears that the house-name was conceived as an alternative version of Connswater, which refers to Con O'Neill (c. 1574-1619), last Gaelic chieftain of Upper Clandeboye. It is probably an anglicisation of Ir. Abhainn (Uí) Néill, 'river of O'Neill'.
Avoneil Street is recorded in 1871. The name is also spelt "Avoniel Street" and the spelling with "ie" comes to dominate from then onwards. Avoneil Road is recorded in 1884 (Belfast Council Minutes; IHTA xvii, 9). The name was then adopted by a football club, a distillery and a leisure centre.
That on the application of the owner of property the Council be recommended to change the name of street hitherto known as Avoniel Road to Wrayburn Street and that of Wrayburn Street to Avoniel Road. Minutes, Improvement Committee, 4th March 1902