The earliest reference we could find to Linfield was in 1840 when there is a reference to C.B. Grimshaw (Linfield). (C.B. Grimshaw is short for Conway B. Grimshaw, who was involved in setting up Linfield Flax Spinning Mill). The 1842-43 edition of Martin’s Belfast Directory lists it in the name of streets. The name Linfield appears to mean 'field of flax'.
"Conway Grimshaw was a merchant in Belfast for some time, till he joined John and William Murphy in building Linfield Mill, in which they all realised fortunes" (George Benn, A History of the Town of Belfast, vol. ii, 1877, p. 214).
There is a reference to C.B. Grimshaw (Linfield House) in the Banner of Ulster on Tuesday 24 October 1848.
“At the junction of Sandy Row and Linfield Road is the 1810 Murray Tobacco Building, where, until recent times, high quality pipe tobacco was manufactured. Nearby is Weaver’s Court Business Park, which stands on the site of the old Linfield Mill of the Ulster Weaving Company. A hugely important linen company it was at its most prosperous during the First World War. Nearby, at the end of Linfield Street, is the building where a former Half-Day school operated. Here child mill workers would study in the morning before working in the afternoon.” (Linen Quarter Document)
In 1886 Linfield Athletic Club was formed from workers at the mill, and this developed into Linfield F.C.