How did the London Underground get its name?

The London Underground did not get its name from being below the ground. It was initially called the Metropolitan Railway when it opened on January 10, 1863. In the early days, most of the system was, in fact, above ground. Trains travelled on the surface above the roads and even ran through people's gardens and backyards. Only later did the railway start to move below ground, mainly to deal with the problem of overcrowding and traffic congestion in the congested streets of London.

As more of the railway went underground, the name gained prominence. But it only became the official name in 1933.