According to John J Marshall, the architect Thomas Jackson is reported to be have been so impressed by the residential area of Bristol called Clifton, that he decided to introduce the name to Belfast (Belfast Telegraph, 04/01/1941, p. 4). These properties were advertised in newspapers with the slogan rus in urbe, a Latin phrase meaning "countryside in the town" (e.g. Northern Whig, 01/07/1833) . Perhaps this reflected the perception of Clifton as a leafy suburb of Bristol, which Jackson aimed to emulate. This is supported by C.E.B. Brett, who described Cliftonville as "a villa estate modelled on Clifton on the outskirts of Bristol" (Buildings of Belfast, rev. ed. 1985, p. 33).
In the Belfast Street Directory of 1839 there is an entry that says: “William Herdman, Esq residence, Cliftonville”. See Cliftonville Road for further details of this name.