According to Carson this was called after George William Frederick Howard, 7th Earl of Carlisle (18 April 1802 – 5 December 1864), styled Viscount Morpeth from 1825 to 1848. Carlisle served as Chief Secretary for Ireland between 1835 and 1841 and as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1855 to 1858 and again from 1859 to 1864. It was during his time as Lord Lieutenant this area was laid out. The first houses were built in 1860. It should be noted that Carlisle Memorial Methodist Church at the roundabout gets its name from a Belfast merchant, James Carlisle. Carlisle made his fortune in the building and linen trades. After the deaths of their children in 1870 and 1874, Carlisle and his wife decided to erect a church in their memory. William Henry Lynn was the chosen architect. Building began in 1875 and was completed the following year.