How Did an English Police Force become known as Scotland Yard?

As of today, the NSY or New Scotland Yard is the head office of the Metropolitan Police service, the law-enforcing body in Greater London, except for the City district, which is being manned by the City of London Police.

The term Scotland Yard has become a popular symbol of policing, and many works of fiction like movies, books, and TV series, feature detectives from Scotland Yard solving crimes and cases. They can be seen working together with big names like Sherlock Holmes and many others. Truly, Scotland Yard has made a name as a commendable and efficient police force recognized all over the United Kingdom, and even the United States.

However, a lot of people can’t help but wonder where Scotland Yard got its name, and how an English police force came to be known as such? With its popularity, people are bound to get interested with its origins.

There are several variations when it comes to the origins of Scotland Yard, but there are really no certainties as to which version is authentic. What is sure though, is that the English police force became known as Scotland Yard because the original location of their headquarters was on Great Scotland Yard, which is a street in Whitehall.

The origin of the name Great Scotland Yard is a whole other story, and there are different variations of how the name came to be. One theory is that the site was previously used as a diplomatic mission held by the Kings of Scotland, preceding the 1707 Union of Scotland and England.

It was said that in the 10th century, England’s King Edgar gave the King of Scotland a portion of land in London. The Scottish king then promised that we would erect a house there and stay in London at least once every year.

In the 12 century however, the Scottish people rebelled against England and as a result, the English king reclaimed the land in London that was given to the Scottish king. The house that was erected was eventually ruined.

When James I was named King of both Scotland and England during 1603, the piece of land became known as “Scotland” to the Londoners. The site was then halved into plots, or “yards”, with Middle Scotland and Great Scotland Yard.

In the year 1662, the London police’s headquarters was established in Scotland Yard, and as time passed, the English police force became known as “Scotland Yard.”

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