Telfair Street was originally known as Telfair’s Entry. Patton surmises it comes from the name of a merchant, Robert Telfair who had stores in this area in the early 19th century. The following excerpt comes from Bradshaw's General And Commercial Directory 1819: "Telfair, Robert, writing master, Belfast Academy; school for young ladies, 13 Joy's entry; house, Grovefield, Ballymacarret. Telfair, Robert, jun. & Co. merchants, Telfair's entry. The name was changed at a meeting of the Improvement Committee on 7 January 1874 to Telfair Street.