When walking around Sofia you might have noticed that some of the streets, boulevards and neighbourhoods are named after foreigners. Every so often, you come across American and British names. In fact, there are 21 individuals of American, British and Irish origin commemorated in this way in Sofia. Almost all of these played a part in Bulgarian history in one way or another during the period between the April Uprising of 1876 and the end of the Second World War, supporting the country and its people. If incorrect transliteration or lack of information has prevented you from delving in the stories behind the names, then just follow our guide.

Floyd Black Lane, Mladost-2

Why is the road leading to the American College of Sofia named Floyd Black Lane? It is not just because Dr Floyd Henson Black (1888-1983) was its first director. He was so popular amongst the students that, when he and his family left Bulgaria in 1942, he was sent off by scores of alumni, singing in English the College song and other American songs. The graduates were waiting for them on the platform of a suburban Sofia railway station, where their train paused on its way to Constantinople. The expulsion of Dr Black had been demanded by the Nazi Commander in Sofia.

Floyd Black was born in the United States in 1888. Between 1911 and 1925 he taught at Robert College in Constantinople. In the summer of 1926 Black moved with his Bulgarian wife, Zarafinka Kirova, and their young son Cyril to take up the position of President of the newly founded American College of Sofia. Established by American missionaries of the Congregational Church in Bulgaria, the college was originally two separate schools, for boys and for girls, but eventually merged into one.