Lorne Park is believed to be named for John Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll, Marquess of Lorne, who served as the Governor General of Canada from 1878 to 1883. However, there is, in essence, two Lorne Parks – one south of Lakeshore Road, and one to the north.

The name appears first in formal use for the area to the south of Lakeshore Road with what we refer to today as Lorne Park Estates. A “fashionable pleasure resort” was established here in 1879 as The Toronto Park Association. The original name was to have been the Lorne Park Association, but it was initially rejected and the name of The Toronto Park Association was substituted. However, in local papers, the park was referred to as Lorne Park, and the name came into formal use in 1892 with the opening of a post office.

In 1886 the park was purchased by a new group of investors under the name of The Toronto and Lorne Park Summer Resort Company. In 1886 the property was surveyed and building lots were created and sold for the development of summer cottages. North-south roads were given the names of famous poets and playwrights, while east-west roads were named after directors of the company. In 1891, a new company was formed to administer the 90-acre park, and it was called The Lorne Park Company Limited. Beset by financial difficulties, in 1909 the park was transferred to the newly formed company, The Lake Shore Country Club Limited. However, that venture was short lived, and between 1912 and 1914, the matter of ownership was contested in the courts, with the result being that individual lots were owned by the cottagers through the Lorne Park Cottagers Association. For the full story of Lorne Park Estates, please see “Village Within a City: The Story of Lorne Park Estates” by the Lorne Park Estates History Committee (1980).

As for the road names within Lorne Park Estates, the street plan (and the road names) was established by 1889. The names of early company presidents are remembered with McConnell and Roper avenues. McConnell Avenue was named for Neaven McConnell (1837-1916), president of The Toronto Park Association, which sold the 75 acres property to The Toronto and Lorne Park Summer Resort Company in 1886; Roper Avenue was named for Frederick Roper (1840-c1922), President of the Toronto and Lorne Park Summer Resort Company and (after 1891) The Lorne Park Company Limited.

Other streets are named for directors of the Toronto and Lorne Park Summer Resort Company, including Stockwell Avenue (named for John William Stockwell, 1849-1912), Henderson Avenue (named for William Richard Henderson, 1845-1917), Boustead Terrace (which no longer exists, was named for Toronto politician James Bellingham Boustead, 1832-1902), and Lugsdin Avenue (which was never opened, although Lugsdin Creek carries the name association today, and was named for Toronto businessmen William Lugsdin, 1833-1908, and his brother Joseph Lugsdin, 1844-1911).

Two other roads that appear in the 1889 plan and also named for directors were either never opened or have since been closed: Campbell Avenue (named for Paul Campbell); Hillman Avenue (named for George Leo Hillman, 1845-1914); Venn Avenue (named for Toronto jeweller James Venn); McIntyre Avenue (named for Steamboat Agent Peter McIntyre); and Neville Avenue (named for barrister Rufus Shorey Neville).

Another road that was never opened was Orient Avenue, although the origin of its name is uncertain. However, being a director did not guarantee a street name, as the names of directors John Earls, Ph. Jacobi, Edmund Burke, George Perry, Josiah Barnett, James Hewlett and Alexander Patterson are not found in the inventory of early road names.

Other road names in Lorne Park Estates today take their origins from famous poets, authors, and playwrights, and were included in the 1889 survey plan. These names include Moore Creek, which was named for Irish writer, poet and playwright Thomas Moore (1779-1852); Whittier Crescent was named for the American poet and abolitionist John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892); Longfellow Avenue takes its name in association with American poet and educator, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882); Sangster Avenue is named for Canadian poet Charles Sangster (1822-1893); British Poet Laureate Lord Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson (1809-1892) lends his name to Tennyson Avenue; Burns Avenue is named in honour of famed Scottish poet and lyricist Robert (“Robbie”) Burns (1759-1796); and finally Chaucer Avenue is named for English poet and author Geoffrey Chaucer (c1340-1400).