Scarborough is a name applied to a number of towns, districts and cultural features in several countries. Most often it refers to the coastal resort in North Yorkshire, England, but the name also identifies neighbourhoods, municipal boroughs and towns in Canada, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Beyond geography, Scarborough appears in song, history and as a family name.

Major places called Scarborough

  • Scarborough, North Yorkshire (England) — A long-established seaside town and tourist centre with a bay, historic castle ruins on cliffs, Victorian-era promenades and a tradition of annual fairs dating back centuries.
  • Scarborough, Toronto (Canada) — Formerly a separate borough, now the eastern district of the City of Toronto, noted for its cultural diversity, suburban neighbourhoods and the scenic Scarborough Bluffs along Lake Ontario.
  • Scarborough, Tobago (Trinidad and Tobago) — The island’s principal town and administrative centre, serving as a commercial hub and port for Tobago.
  • Other localities — Smaller towns and suburbs named Scarborough exist in the United States (for example, Scarborough, Maine), Australia and New Zealand, reflecting British place-name transfer during periods of settlement.

The name itself is of ancient origin and likely derives from early Norse or Old English elements referring to a fort, stronghold or rocky promontory. In many cases coastal geography helped fix the name to towns beside cliffs, harbours or headlands.

Cultural references and other uses

Scarborough has entered cultural life beyond maps. The traditional English ballad "Scarborough Fair" evokes the historic fairs once held in the Yorkshire town and has been adapted in popular music. Naval vessels and merchant ships have been named Scarborough, and the word also survives as a surname. Local attractions associated with the name include theatres, open-air venues and geological features like the Scarborough Bluffs.

When encountering the name Scarborough, context determines its reference: in British travel or history it usually means the North Yorkshire resort; in Canadian civic contexts it refers to the Toronto district; in Caribbean affairs it commonly denotes the town on Tobago. Each Scarborough carries its own local history, economy and community life, but they share a common legacy as places shaped by seaside or coastal settings and by centuries of human settlement.