[citation needed] The neighbourhood derives its name from the term "sowcar" which comes from the Hindi word sahukaar, originally meaning merchant or native banker.

[3] In his book Madras Rediscovered, Chennai city chronicler S. Muthiah writes that Gujarati immigrants from Saurashtra who established themselves as a weaving community in Madurai and Tirunelveli arrived in the Sowcarpet neighbourhood in the 17th century.

[3] Sowcarpet is considered a shopper's paradise owing to the presence of shops and outlets selling a wide range of finished goods.

The sight is typical of the crowded bazaars of Indian cities – a potpourri of different vendors and artisans, trading and making a variety of articles.

Kakada Ramprasad and Novelty Tea House, both started in 1958, are some of the notable eateries in the neighbourhood.