Named after Heron Quays, between two basins of the old West India Docks.
The quays separated South Dock from Middle (Export) Dock in the docks completed in 1802, but Hidden London says the strip had no name in the days of the docks. It believes marketing people at Tarmac, whose redevelopment plans date from 1981, invented 'Heron Quays', possibly influenced by nearby Canary Wharf.