Lawther Street off the Limestone Road is mentioned in newspaper report in Belfast News-Letter - Friday 07 May 1869. A surmise: a possible connection with Samuel Lawther, of Lawther & Harvey, the shipping magnate.
"Resolved that the following names of streets submitted by the Surveyor be approved of: … Street parallel to Osborne Street off Lawther Street — Lawther Place". (15th April 1874).