Pottinger’s Entry takes its name after Thomas Pottinger who was a merchant and a freeman by 1688. As a Presbyterian, he was unable to advance politically in Belfast under the influence of the Earl of Donegall, the Sovereign and Burgesses. He did, however, manage singlehandedly to secure a new charter from King James who dissolved the current city corporation and made Pottinger the new sovereign. He gained favour with King William by supplying his army in his war against King James.
"As early as 1665-66 we find him concerned him in a bond due by Lord Donegall to Mr. Doake. In a rental of the year 1681 of the estate of Alice, Countess of Clanbrassil, he is returned as tenant of Ballymacarrett at a rental of £20.
The street is first recorded as Pottinger's Lean on Maclanachan's map of 1715, and as Potengers Entry in a funeral register of 1726. It is included in the list of streets in the Belfast Directory 1835-1836. The 1839 edition of Martin’s Belfast Directory lists businesses there.
Remarkably, there are no descendants by the name of Pottinger in Belfast today.