The street is named after William à Court, 1st Baron Heytesbury (1789–1860), Lord Lieutenant 1844–46.

Built and developed as an artery to join Portobello Harbour about 1820, its current layout dates from the mid-19th century.

33, Heytesbury Street was the birthplace of Cornelius Ryan, author of The Longest Day, The Last Battle and A Bridge Too Far.

"There's a bloody big foxy thief beyond by the garrison church at the corner of Chicken lane - old Troy was just giving me a wrinkle about him - lifted any God's quantity of tea and sugar to pay three bob a week said he had a farm in the county Down off a hop-of-my-thumb by the name of Moses Herzog over there near Heytesbury street."

Of companions now in various manners in different places defunct: Percy Apjohn (killed in action, Modder River), Philip Gilligan (phthisis, Jervis Street hospital), Matthew F. Kane (accidental drowning, Dublin Bay), Philip Moisel (pyemia, Heytesbury street), Michael Hart (phthisis, Mater Misericordiae hospital), Patrick Dignam (apoplexy, Sandymount)."