Belfast Harbour dock names honour many well known figures. In April, 1839, a new cut or channel from Dunbar's Dock to the first bend in the river commenced. It was finished in 1841. Dunbar Street Named from John G. Dunbar, J.P.. who owned Dunbar's Dock, and resided at Macedon. In the course of extensive alterations to the harbour property, carried out in 1839-1841, Dunbar's Dock was along with other considerable properties acquired by the Ballast Corporation (now Harbour Board). John J Marshall "The Bleakest Street in the Bleak North" (Belfast Telegraph, Wednesday 08 January 1941).
The 1890 BPU Directory states that Grattan Street had been changed to Dunbar Street. The earlier name referred to Henry Grattan (1746-1820), a Nationalist parliamentarian who campaigned for and won a measure of legislative autonomy for Ireland in the late 18th century. The Irish parliament formed in 1782, which met in the building in Dublin that later became the Bank of Ireland, was popularly known as "Grattan's Parliament". This was dissolved with the Act of Union which took effect on January 1, 1801.