The Belfast And Province Of Ulster Directory 1892 lists a William Harper living at Beechfield House. Also, William Harper was one of the applicants requesting the naming of Beechfield Street in 1875 (Town Improvement Committee, reported in the Belfast Telegraph - Monday 01 February 1875). This suggests that Harper Street, which is close to the site of Beechfield House, may have been named after William or his family.
The Belfast News-Letter contained a report on Thursday 02 June 1887 which stated: “They [the Town Improvement Committee] have, at the request of the owner of the property, named a new street off Mountpottinger Road Harper Street.”