Plans to build a street named Quinton Street are mentioned as early as 1882 as part of a development between Cregagh Road (now Woodstock Road), Willowfield Street and Castlereagh Road. However, Quinton Street as actually built is on the east side of Castlereagh Road.
Quinton is a place-name that occurs in several different counties in England. There are also several instances of Quinton Road / Street in England. However, there is a possibility that the name has its origin closer to Belfast. The townland of Ballyquintin is located at the southern tip of the Ards Peninsula. There are several different historical spellings, including Ballyconton and Ballyquinton. The second part of the name, -quintin, is understood as a local saint, whose Irish name is Cú Mhaighe, sometimes anglised as Cowey. Furthermore, Quintin is also a place-name in its own right. In the townland of Ballymarter, a few kilometres to the north along the seaward side of the peninsula, there is Quintin Bay and Quintin Castle, sometimes spelt Quinton. It is, therefore, possible that Quinton Street is named from a connection with this part of the Ards Peninsula, either with the saint or the place-name. See placenamesni.org for detailed information on these names.
Resolved that on the application of the owner, Mr J. D. Dunlop, new streets on his property situate off Castlereagh Road be named ‘Glenvarnock Street’, ‘Lambourne Street’, 'Wayland Street' and ‘Quinton Street’ and that he be requested to submit another name instead of Brenda Street, as there is already a street of almost similar name in the city. TIC: 31st January 1900.