Since the region had no formal name and as the area became known for trade, visiting people began to call it "Hsin Tien" or new shop as it roughly translates into English.
當時此地無地名，各店也無店號，來往旅客就稱這一帶為「新店」。後來漸有漢人移民至此墾拓，也與山胞發生多次械鬥。光緒十二年，劉銘傳開山撫番，駐軍屯田，山胞乃逐漸南遷至烏來，新店遂成漢人天下。