Etymologies of place names in Los Angeles, California
Encyclopedia
Source of the place names in the city of Los Angeles
, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
| Place Name | Source |
|---|---|
| Abbot Kinney Boulevard | Abbot Kinney Abbot Kinney Abbot Kinney was a developer and conservationist. Kinney is best known for his "Venice of America" development in Los Angeles.-Early life:... , founder of Venice, California Venice, Los Angeles, California Venice is a beachfront district on the Westside of Los Angeles, California, United States. It is known for its canals, beaches and circus-like Ocean Front Walk, a two-and-a-half mile pedestrian-only promenade that features performers, fortune-tellers, artists, and vendors... |
| Aliso Street | Named after the Aliso, the old sycamore that stood at the entrance of Jean-Louis Vignes Jean-Louis Vignes Jean-Louis Vignes , or as he was known to his Mexican neighbors, "Don Luis del Aliso", was a French settler to the Los Angeles area during the Mexican era. He was the first commercial wine maker in California and one of the first men to import and plant European Vitis vinifera grapes in the state... ' winery |
| Alvarado Street Alvarado Street Alvarado Street is a north-south thoroughfare in the Greater Los Angeles Area.-Geography:North of Glendale Boulevard, it starts off as a residential street. It becomes a major thoroughfare south of Glendale Boulevard. Directly south of Pico Boulevard and north of Venice Boulevard, Alvarado Street... |
Juan Bautista Alvarado Juan Bautista Alvarado Juan Bautista Valentín Alvarado y Vallejo was a Californio and twice Governor of Alta California from 1836 to 1837, and 1838 to 1842.-Early years:... , Mexican Governor of Alta California |
| Baldwin Hills Baldwin Hills, Los Angeles, California Baldwin Hills is a community and neighborhood in the South Los Angeles area of Los Angeles, within southwestern Los Angeles County, California... neighborhood |
E. J. "Lucky" Baldwin, mining and real estate investor |
| Beaudry Avenue | Prudent Beaudry Prudent Beaudry Prudent Beaudry served as the 13th Mayor of Los Angeles, California from 1874 to 1876. A native of Quebec, he was the second French Canadian, and third French American mayor of Los Angeles.-Early life:... , Los Angeles mayor Mayor of Los Angeles, California The mayor of Los Angeles is the chief executive officer of the city. He is elected for a four-year term and limited to serving no more than two terms. Under the California Constitution, all judicial, school, county, and city offices, including those of chartered cities, are nonpartisan... |
| Bel-Air Bel-Air, Los Angeles, California Bel Air is an affluent residential community in the hills of the Westside of the city of Los Angeles, California. Together with Beverly Hills and Holmby Hills it forms the Platinum Triangle of Los Angeles neighborhoods.... neighborhood |
Alphonzo E. Bell, Sr., owner of the "Buenos Aires Ranch" |
| La Brea Avenue La Brea Avenue La Brea Avenue is a prominent north/south thoroughfare in Los Angeles. Several museums are located along La Brea, and it is known for having many stores and eateries.-Description:... |
La Brea, the Spanish Spanish language Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the... name for the oil fields near present-day Hancock Park Hancock Park, Los Angeles, California Hancock Park is a historic and affluent urban neighborhood in Los Angeles, California roughly bounded by Van Ness Avenue to the East, Melrose Avenue to the North, La Brea Avenue to the West, and Wilshire Boulevard to the South.-History:... , meaning tar |
| Brooklyn Avenue | After Brooklyn, New York, in honor of the many Jewish Americans living in Boyle Heights at the time |
| Cahuenga Boulevard Cahuenga Pass Cahuenga Pass The Cahuenga Pass is a mountain pass through the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains in the Hollywood district of the City of Los Angeles, California.... |
Cahuenga, the Spanish Spanish language Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the... name for the Tongva village of Kawengna, meaning place of the mountain |
| César E. Chávez Avenue | César Chávez César Chávez César Estrada Chávez was an American farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers .... Mexican-American farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist |
| La Cienega Boulevard La Cienega Boulevard La Cienega Boulevard is a major, well-known north–south arterial road that runs between El Segundo Boulevard in El Segundo, California on the south and the Sunset Strip/Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood.... |
Rancho Las Cienegas Rancho Las Cienegas Rancho Las Cienegas was a Mexican land grant in present day Los Angeles County, California given in 1823 to Francisco Avila. "La Cienega" is derived from the Spanish word cienaga, which means swamp or marshland and refers to the natural springs and wetlands in the area between the Baldwin Hills... , a rancho in a low-lying area west of Los Angeles, from the Spanish term cienaga, meaning marsh or bog |
| Crenshaw Crenshaw, Los Angeles, California Crenshaw is a neighborhood and district in southwestern Los Angeles, California. It derives its name from Crenshaw Boulevard, one of the city's principal thoroughfares.... neighborhood Crenshaw Boulevard |
George Crenshaw George L. Crenshaw George L. Crenshaw was a banker and real estate developer who built several upscale residential developments in mid-city Los Angeles in the early 1900s. Among these was Lafayette Square and Wellington Square . The Crenshaw district of Los Angeles and its principal thoroughfare, Crenshaw... , banker and real estate developer |
| Los Feliz Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California Los Feliz, also Rancho Los Feliz is an affluent, hilly neighborhood in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California, named after its land grantee José Vicente Feliz.... neighborhood Los Feliz Boulevard Los Feliz Boulevard Los Feliz Boulevard is a street in Glendale and Los Angeles.The west-east thoroughfare runs through Glendale and Los Angeles. It starts off at Glendale Avenue as Los Feliz Road. After passing the railroad tracks, it enters Los Angeles and changes to Los Feliz Boulevard. Los Feliz passes through... |
Rancho Los Feliz Rancho Los Feliz Rancho Los Feliz was a Spanish land concession in present day Los Angeles County, California given in 1795 by Spanish Governor Pedro Fages to Jose Vicente Feliz. The land of the grant includes Los Feliz and Griffith Park, and was bounded on the east by the Los Angeles River.-History:Given to Jose... , originally granted to José Vincente Feliz |
| Figueroa Avenue Figueroa Street Figueroa Street Figueroa Street is a street in Los Angeles County, California named for General José Figueroa , governor of Alta California from 1833 to 1835, who oversaw the secularization of the missions of California... |
José Figueroa José Figueroa General José Figueroa , was a General and the Mexican territorial Governor of Alta California from 1833 to 1835.Figueroa oversaw the initial secularization of the missions of upper California, which included the expulsion of the Spanish Franciscan mission officials.This also involved the issuing of... , Mexican Governor of Alta California |
| Glassell Park Glassell Park, Los Angeles, California Glassell Park is a neighborhood in northeast Los Angeles, California.-Geography:Glassell Park borders Atwater Village and the Los Angeles River on the west, the city of Glendale on the northwest, Eagle Rock on the northeast, Mount Washington on the southeast and Cypress Park on the south... neighborhood |
Andrew Glassell Andrew Glassell Andrew Glassell was a Los Angeles real estate attorney and investor. He may be best known as one of the founders of the city of Orange, California.-Early life and career:... real estate lawyer and owner |
| Griffith Park Griffith Park Griffith Park is a large municipal park at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The park covers of land, making it one of the largest urban parks in North America... and Griffith Observatory Griffith Observatory Griffith Observatory is in Los Angeles, California, United States. Sitting on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in L.A.'s Griffith Park, it commands a view of the Los Angeles Basin, including downtown Los Angeles to the southeast, Hollywood to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest... |
Griffith J. Griffith Griffith J. Griffith Griffith Jenkins Griffith was a Welsh-American industrialist and philanthropist. After amassing a significant fortune from a mining syndicate in the 1880s, Griffith donated to the City of Los Angeles which became Griffith Park, and he bequeathed the money to build the park's Greek Theatre and... , Welsh-American industrialist and philanthropist |
| Huntington Drive Huntington Drive Huntington Drive is a major east–west street in Southern California. It runs from the merge of Soto Street and Mission Road near the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Los Angeles east through the El Sereno section of Los Angeles, South Pasadena, San Marino, Alhambra, San Gabriel, Arcadia,... |
Henry E. Huntington Henry E. Huntington Henry Edwards Huntington was a railroad magnate and collector of art and rare books. Born in Oneonta, New York, Huntington settled in Los Angeles, where he owned the Pacific Electric Railway as well as substantial real estate interests... , railroad magnate and business man |
| Lankershim Boulevard | Isaac B. Lankershim |
| Leimert Park Leimert Park, Los Angeles, California Leimert Park is a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California roughly bounded by Rodeo Road on the north, 4th Avenue and Roxton Avenue on the east, Vernon Avenue on the south, and Crenshaw Boulevard on the west. Crenshaw District lies to the south, View Park to the west, Vermont Square to the east,... |
Walter H. "Tim" Leimert |
| Micheltorena Street | Manuel Micheltorena Manuel Micheltorena Manuel Micheltorena was a Brigadier General of the Mexican Army, Adjutant-General of the same, Governor, Commandant-General and Inspector of the Department of the California... , Mexican Governor of Alta California |
| Mulholland Drive Mulholland Drive Mulholland Drive is a street and road in the eastern Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California. It is named after Los Angeles pioneer civil engineer William Mulholland... Mulholland Highway Mulholland Highway Mulholland Highway is a scenic road in Los Angeles County, Southern California that runs approximately 50 miles through the western Santa Monica Mountains from the near U.S... |
William Mulholland William Mulholland William Mulholland was the head of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, in Los Angeles. He was responsible for building the water aqueducts and dams that allowed the city to grow into one of the largest in the world. His methods of obtaining water for the city led to disputes collectively... , water-services pioneer in Southern California |
| Olvera Street Olvera Street Olvera Street is in the oldest part of Downtown Los Angeles, California, and is part of the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument. Many Latinos refer to it as "La Placita Olvera." Circa 1911 it was described as Sonora Town.... |
Augustín Olvera Agustin Olvera Agustin Olvera was a pioneer of Los Angeles, California and was active in the turbulent political affairs of the time.-Biography:... , early Los Angeles judge |
| Olympic Boulevard Olympic Boulevard Olympic Boulevard is a major arterial road in Los Angeles, California. It stretches from 4th Street on the western end of Santa Monica to East Los Angeles—farther than Wilshire Boulevard and most other streets.... |
Named as part of the L.A.'s failed bid for the 1928 Summer Olympics 1928 Summer Olympics The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de... |
| Pico Boulevard Pico Boulevard Pico Boulevard is a major Los Angeles street that runs from the Pacific Ocean at Appian Way in Santa Monica to Central Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles, California, USA... |
Pío Pico Pío Pico Pío de Jesús Pico was the last Governor of Alta California under Mexican rule.-Origins:... , last Mexican Governor of Alta California |
| Rosecrans Avenue Rosecrans Avenue Rosecrans Avenue is a major west-east thoroughfare in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, California, USA. It has a total length of 27.5 miles . The street is named after Union General William S. Rosecrans, who spent his later years in Southern California.-Route:Rosecrans Avenue begins at Ocean... |
William Rosecrans William Rosecrans William Starke Rosecrans was an inventor, coal-oil company executive, diplomat, politician, and United States Army officer. He gained fame for his role as a Union general during the American Civil War... , Civil War American Civil War The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25... general and owner of Rancho San Pedro Rancho San Pedro Rancho San Pedro was one of the first California land grants, and the first to win a patent from the United States. The land grant was validated by the Mexican government at in 1828, and a US patent validating was issued in 1858... |
| Sepulveda Boulevard Sepulveda Boulevard Sepulveda Boulevard is a street in Los Angeles, California, which stretches some 42.8 miles from Rinaldi Street at the north end of the San Fernando Valley to the city limits of Hermosa Beach, where it "jumps" east and continues on to Long Beach. It generally runs north-south, passing underneath... Sepulveda Pass Sepulveda Pass Sepulveda Pass is a mountain pass through the Santa Monica Mountains in Los Angeles.It connects the Los Angeles Basin to the San Fernando Valley via the San Diego Freeway and Sepulveda Boulevard and experiences heavy traffic on a regular basis, commonly experiencing major traffic slowdowns and... |
Sepúlveda Sepulveda Sepúlveda is a name of families of Spanish descent. Sepúlveda, Segovia is the name of a village in Spain.The Sepúlveda family was prominent in the early days of Los Angeles, California and Orange County... family |
| Sherman Oaks Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California Sherman Oaks is an affluent district in the San Fernando Valley area of the city of Los Angeles, California. In contrast to much of the Valley, the area is relatively urbanized, with commercial skyscrapers along Ventura Boulevard as well as scattered throughout... neighborhood Sherman Way |
Moses Sherman Moses Sherman Moses Hazeltine Sherman was a land developer who built the Phoenix Street Railway in Phoenix, Arizona, and later built other lines and owned property in the San Fernando Valley and Hollywood, California. He also served on the Los Angeles Water Board.At the junction of his streetcar lines west of... , land developer and streetcar line owner |
| Silver Lake Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California Silver Lake is a hilly neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California east of Hollywood and northwest of Downtown Los Angeles. Silver Lake is inhabited by a wide variety of ethnic and socioeconomic groups, but it is best known as an eclectic gathering of hipsters and the creative class.The... neighborhood Silver Lake Boulevard Silver Lake Reservoir |
Herman Silver |
| Slauson Avenue Slauson Avenue Slauson Avenue is a major east-west thoroughfare for southern Los Angeles County, California, named for the land developer and Los Angeles Board of Education member J. S. Slauson. It passes through Culver City, Ladera Heights, View Park-Windsor Hills, Baldwin Hills, Inglewood, South Los Angeles,... |
J. S. Slauson J. S. Slauson Jonathan Sayre Slauson was a land developer who founded the town of Azusa, California in 1887. He was elected to the Los Angeles Board of Education on December 5, 1904 for a two year term. However, Slauson resigned on September 23, 1905. His resignation was accepted a week later when Wilson... , land developer |
| Tarzana Tarzana, Los Angeles, California Tarzana is a district in the San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. The neighborhood is located on the site of a former ranch owned by author Edgar Rice Burroughs, who named it Tarzana after his jungle hero character Tarzan.-Geography:Tarzana, a district... neighborhood |
Tarzana Ranch, owned by the creator of Tarzan Tarzan Tarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer... , Edgar Rice Burroughs Edgar Rice Burroughs Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.-Biography:... |
| Tujunga neighborhood Tujunga Avenue |
From the Tongva term Tuyunga, meaning mountain range from tu'xuu = old woman tu'xuunga = place of the old woman |
| Van Nuys Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California Van Nuys is a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California.-History:Look at the two photos of Van Nuys' first year—and then listen to what the Los Angeles Times wrote on February 23, 1911, the day after the Van Nuys town lot auction--"Between dawn and dusk, in the... neighborhood Van Nuys Boulevard |
Isaac Newton Van Nuys Isaac Newton Van Nuys Isaac Newton Van Nuys was an American businessman, real estate developer, banker, and agricultural entrepreneur. He founded the community of Van Nuys in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California in 1911... , businessman, banker and real estate developer |
| Vignes Street | Jean Louis Vignes, French settler in Los Angeles who planted European grapes |
| Watts Watts, Los Angeles, California Watts is a mostly residential neighborhood in South Los Angeles, California.-History:The area now known as Watts is located on the Rancho La Tajauta Mexican land grant... neighborhood |
C. H. Watts, real estate developer |
| Wilmington Wilmington, Los Angeles, California Wilmington is a district of Los Angeles, with industry as its primary economic activity. It lies adjacent to the Port of Los Angeles, San Pedro, and Harbor City. Wilmington is the site of Banning House and Drum Barracks, or Camp Drum, the only major American Civil War landmark in California. The... neighborhood |
Wilmington, Delaware Wilmington, Delaware Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley... , birthplace of founder Phineas Banning Phineas Banning Phineas Banning was an American businessman, financier, and entrepreneur.Known as "The Father of the Port of Los Angeles," he was one of the founders of the town of Wilmington, which was named for his birthplace... |
| Wilshire Boulevard Wilshire Boulevard Wilshire Boulevard is one of the principal east-west arterial roads in Los Angeles, California, United States. It was named for Henry Gaylord Wilshire , an Ohio native who made and lost fortunes in real estate, farming, and gold mining. Henry Wilshire initiated what was to become Wilshire... |
Gaylord Wilshire Henry Gaylord Wilshire Henry Gaylord Wilshire , known to his contemporaries by his middle name of "Gaylord," was a land developer, publisher and outspoken socialist who gave Los Angeles' famous Wilshire Boulevard its name.-Early years:... , land developer, publisher and outspoken socialist |
| Workman Street, Lincoln Heights Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, California -Geography and transportation:Lincoln Heights is bounded by the Los Angeles River on the west, the San Bernardino Freeway on the south, and Indiana Street on the east; the district's Eastern border is unclear due to the area's uneven terrain... |
William H. Workman William H. Workman William Henry Workman was an American politician, banker and businessman. He served two terms as the 18th Mayor of Los Angeles, California.-Early life:... , Los Angeles mayor Mayor of Los Angeles, California The mayor of Los Angeles is the chief executive officer of the city. He is elected for a four-year term and limited to serving no more than two terms. Under the California Constitution, all judicial, school, county, and city offices, including those of chartered cities, are nonpartisan... |