It was built by the Denaby Main Colliery Company to house its workers and their families, and originally given the name Denaby Main Colliery Village, to distinguish it from the village of Denaby, about ⅔ mile away on the road to Hooton Roberts and Kilnhurst; from that time, the old village became known as Old Denaby. In due course the "Colliery Village" part of the name was lost, leaving the village to be known as Denaby Main.
It was constructed by the Denaby Main Colliery Company to accommodate its employees and their households, and initially named Denaby Main Colliery Village to differentiate it from the nearby village of Denaby, approximately ⅔ mile distant on the route to Hooton Roberts and Kilnhurst; subsequently, the "Colliery Village" part of the name was discarded, leaving the village known as Denaby Main.