'Limehouse' means the lime oasts: the kilns by the river.
It comes from Old English līm-āst, lime-oast. By 1335 the 'limehostes' or kilns stood near Forbystreet, east of Ratcliff, later giving their name to the whole area; a mill nearby ground the chalk. By 1400 five limekilns were held for rent. The station opened in 1840 as Stepney and took the name Limehouse only in 1987.