Hi June I've never thought much about street names, but now that you mention them they are interesting and, as you say, no street named Paradise remotely resembles one. Prejudice against the Irish is a whole other topic and one we probably won't get into on this list. My great grandmother was from Ireland (a FARLEY), but I haven't done any research on that line. Kindest regards, Lynne June Dowling wrote: Thank you so much for responding Lynne -- as you say that makes 3 of us interested in surnames anyway!! I also take an interest in old street names and wonder why they were so called -- some are obvious - others not so. I don't know why, but if you ever come across a 'Paradise' St, Lane or whatever -- it looks anything but 'Paradise'. In the town where I live and many moons ago - I can remember people saying about women who looked common, or perhaps scruffy 'She looks like she comes from Back Mary Ann St'. When I started Family History I discovered there WAS a Mary Ann St in the town --- and it was an Irish filled street. This typifies, I think the way the Irish were initially regarded when they came into our towns.(I can say this because my grandmother AND my husband are both Irish!!) June