"That on the application of Messrs H. & J. Martin Ltd a new street on their property situate off Donegall Road along the Great Northern Railway be named Donegall Avenue". (Minutes, Town Improvement Committee, 15th September 1897).
The name Donegall appears in several places in Belfast. It is spelt with two Ls which goes back to the 17th century and how the Chichester family spelled it in those days. The family had considerable land in Co Donegal.