Roncesvalles Avenue and its surrounding neighbourhood take their name from the Battle of Roncevaux Pass, the 8th-century Pyrenean engagement immortalized in the medieval French epic La Chanson de Roland. The street was named in the 19th century, reflecting the Victorian fondness for romantic and historic European place names. The neighbourhood developed primarily in the early 20th century as streetcar suburbs extended westward from the city core.

For much of the late 20th century, Roncesvalles was the heart of Toronto's Polish community, earning it the informal nickname 'Roncy' and hosting one of the city's most beloved annual street festivals. Though the neighbourhood has gentrified considerably, its Polish roots remain visible in delis, bakeries, and community institutions, sitting comfortably alongside the cafés, independent shops, and young families that now define its character.