Named after Kings County, itself named in honour of King Charles II.
The road began as an Indian trail, recorded in a 1652 deed as 'Mechawanienck', 'the ancient pathway'. In colonial times locals linked smaller roads, cow paths and trails into the 'King's Highway', naming it after the county, which was named in honour of King Charles II of England on 1 November 1683. On 26 August 1776 the British general Lord Cornwallis travelled along it with his troops to the Battle of Brooklyn.