Brooklyn’s neighborhood names carry more than four centuries of history. Some reach back to Dutch and English colonial settlements, others preserve Native place-names, family estates, old farms, military landmarks, railroads, seaside resorts, industrial districts, and the real estate developments that reshaped the borough.
This guide looks at the stories behind 55 Brooklyn neighborhood and historic place-names, from Flatbush and Gowanus to DUMBO, Coney Island, Weeksville, and Wingate.
1. Flatbush
Origin: Derived from the Dutch name Vlackebos, generally translated as “wooded plain” or “flat woodland.”
The Story: Dutch settlers established the village known as Midwout and Vlackebos in the 17th century, and the Dutch granted it a patent in 1652. Under English rule the name evolved into Flatbush. The town later served as the Kings County seat from roughly 1685 until 1832 and remained an independent municipality until it was annexed to the City of Brooklyn in 1894.
2. Gowanus
Origin: An old Brooklyn place-name traditionally connected to a Native leader recorded as Gowanes or Gouwane…