Originally called Leong Sin Nam Street, the namesake Leong Sin Nam (1880-1940) was born in Guangdong Province, China, during a time of great misery brought on by the upheavals of the Taiping Rebellion, which was the work of largely Hakka followers of a Christian-inspired cult. The family left Guangdong Province when he was 3 years old to settle in Penang. From Penang, Leong relocated to Perak, to work as a coolie in the tin mines. From there, he worked his way upwards to become a wealthy tin miner.