In 1861, the community applied for a post office, but was rejected because another post office with the name Brownsville was already in operation in York County. (That community is now part of Woodbridge in Vaughan.) In 1862, the community was renamed Schomberg, a name suggested by Thomas Roberts Ferguson, and its post office was established. The name was likely for The 3rd Duke of Schomberg and 1st Duke of Leinster, K.G. (1641-1719), a general under King William III of England.