Local dignitaries have have lent their names to streets, Thomas Fanshaw and A.J.Balfour amongst them. Names such as Duncombe and Dimsdale can be found on pubs as well as streets (although the latter closed in the 1990s). Cecil, Salisbury, Gascoyne. Townshend and Villiers all reflect the role played by The House Of Cecil in the town's history.
The main street in the town centre is named Fore Street, parallel to which ran the lesser Back Street, now known as Railway Street.
Some streets are named after pubs, such as Maidenhead Street and Bull Plain. The Maidenhead closed in 1933 and was later occupied by Woolworths. The Bull Inn is now a camera shop.
Shown below are some street names in the town and details of their origins.
| Albion Close | built on the site of The Albion Inn |
| Archers Close | built on the site of William Archer's scrap metal yard |
| Ashbourne | a small stream also known as The Gulphs and colloqially as The Quicks |
| Baker Street | named after William Baker, Mayor of Hertford 1931-1939 |
| Balfour Street | Named after the Hon.A.J.Balfour, Hertford's MP who became Prime Minister in 1902. |
| Birdie Way | all the roads on the Pinehurst Estate are named after golfing expressions. The estate was built on land that was once part of East Herts Golf Club |
| Byde Street | Named after Sir Thomas Byde, Recorder of London in 1669, who rebuilt the mansion at Ware Park. |
| Carde Close | Edward Carde was Mayor three times in the 17th century |
| Calton Avenue | Joseph Calton was Mayor four times in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. |
| Cecil Road | Named after William Cecil, the second Earl of Salisbury. |
| Cranbourne Close | Named after Lord Cranbourne, a Hertford MP. |
| Cowbridge | A drover's route into town. Cattle were driven into town over Cowbridge to the market in Old Cross and latterly Bull Plain and then The Ram. |
| Cowper Crescent | Sir William Cowper - MP |
| Cromwell Road | Named after Oliver Cromwell, who came to the town to quell a mutiny amongst his men during the English Civil War. |
| Currie Street | Named after the early 19th century MP. |
| Davies Street | Originally Railway Terrace, Davies Street is named after Dr.John Davies, lardlord of the properties. He came to Hertford in 1827 and was appointed surgeon to the local militia, later becoming physician to the Infirmary and County Gaol. He was also elected Mayor in 1835. |
| Desborough Close | The Desborough family owned Panshanger Park from 1905 - 1952 when it was sold and the mansion demolished. |
| Dimsdale Street | Probably named after Sir John Dimsdale, a prominent Hertford doctor, who presented the main gates of Christ's Hospital to the school. He later became Baron Dimsdale. |
| Dolphin Yard | Next to the site of the former Glove and Dolphin Inn which existed until 1768 |
| Duncombe Road | Named after Thomas Duncombe, Hertford's Radical MP of the early 19th Century. |
| Fairfax Road | Named after Thomas Fairfax, commander-in-chief of the seventeenth century New Model Army. He came with Oliver Cromwell to the town to quell an uprising in the ranks. |
| Fanshawe Street | Bears the name of Sir Richard Fanshawe, one time owner of Ware Park. |
| Frampton Street | Named after William Frampton Andrews, who, with his brother, built the houses on Folly Island. The brothers also established the Museum. |
| Gascoyne Way | Named after the Gascoigne Family. |
| Glovers Close | So-called because of the glove factory that stood on the site, owned by Webb & Co. |
| Holden Close | James Holden 1885-1907 was Locomotive Superintendent of Great Eastern Railways. Holdens Close is built on the site of the first Hertford East station built in 1843. The present station was built in 1888. |
| Hornsmill Road | was previously Horns Road. Horns Mill was originally the Brickendonburry Mill but by 1834 was colloqially called Horns Mill after the Harts Horns Inn wich is recorded as early as 1714. The mill was demolished in 1972 after Webb & Co leather dressers and glove manufacturers closed down. |
| Palmer Close | Palmer Close and Palmer Road are both named after Mayor Andrew Palmer, who served during the English Civil War. |
| Pegs Lane | William Peg built the first cottages here around 1800. |
| Priory Street | Named after The Hertford Priory, which stood on the site. |
| Purkiss Road | Beleived to be named after Alexander Purkiss Ginn, Freeman of the Town and major during the early part of the 20th century. |
| Sele Farm | Sele Manor was listed in The Domesday Book of 1086 |
| St.John's Street | Named after St.John's Church, which stood nearby in The Hertford Priory. |
| Talbot Street | Rev.William Talbot and Robert Bourke purchased the land for redevelopment around 1860 |
| Tanners Crescent | So named because of the leather tannery that stood on the site, owned by Webb & Co. |
| Thornton Street | Named after Robert Thornton Andrews, who, with his brother, built the houses on Folly Island. The brothers also established the Museum. |
| Villiers Street | Together with Townshend Street, is named after John Villiers Townshend, the fifth Marquess of Salisbury of Hatfield |
Many streets, squares and yards in Hertford bear the names of noteworthy individuals that have connections with the town. Others have names that reflect their heritage, such as Priory Street or Tanners Crescent.