What does SoHo stand for?

[seb brown]

I was wondering where did the name SoHo come from , does it mean anything, is it an abreviation? There's a SoHo in New York and London, so I though the name might have come from somewhere. By the way have I written it right as 'SoHo', or should it just be 'Soho'?

[sft42]

It's written as "Soho" and was first used as a cry in rabbit hunting. It dates to around 1307 and was yelled when the hunters had sighted the rabbit, equivalent to Tally Ho in fox hunting. The areas where Soho now occupies was once pastureland where hunting took place. The place name, which dates to 1632, derives from this hunter's cry.

The origin of New York City's Soho district is another story. Most New Yorkers claim that it is an acronym for "SOuth of HOuston Street," but would seem more likely that it is taken from the London place name. In fact, both explanations seem to be correct. It is indeed an acronym, but that acronym would never have been chosen if not inspired by the London neighborhood.

[incitatus]

it always struck me that so, ho was a common greeting in that area of london........

[sylvia]

I thought in New York it meant South of the Hudson River, but then it would be SoHu wouldn't it!! Philippa

[PaulK]

There is a SoHo in Hong KOng which stands for South of Hollywood (Hollywood Rd)