"Gets its name from "Vicinage" the private residence of Thomas McCabe, watchmaker, North Street famous for his sign: 'Thomas McCabe, an Irish slave, licensed to deal in silver and gold'. He held under a lease in perpetuity a farm of ten acres at "Cross Loanings" and there he resided and gave it the name "Vicinage" on account ot its proximity to Belfast. The "Irish Slave" and his son Wlliam Putnam McCabe, and their associates plotted a large part of the '98 Rebellion at "Vicinage". In 1833 "Vicinage" house and farm were sold to Dr. Crolly, and the present St. Malachy's College occupies the site of McCabe's house". (John J. Marshall, Belfast Telegraph, 21/02/1941).
Vicinage was shown on Williamson’s map of Belfast (1791). The house became a boarding house for a seminary in 1833, and later became St. Malachy’s College. The word vicinage is an antiquated term for "proximity". Why this name was considered appropriate for the house is not clear, unless simply that it was outside but close to the town.
The minutes of the Town Improvement Committee 26 May 1880 indicate the naming of this street.