* 唐 (Táng) refers to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), a period of great prosperity and cultural influence in China. It is often used to refer to Chinese people, particularly those from the south of China.
* 人 (rén) means "people" or "person".
* 街 (jiē) means "street" or "district".
Therefore, 唐人街 literally translates to "Tang people street" or "Tang people district". It's a way to describe a district inhabited by Chinese people, often those who emigrated from southern China during the Qing Dynasty.
This name is not a specific reference to the Tang Dynasty itself, but rather uses it as a general term to represent Chinese people and culture. It's important to note that Chinatown is not necessarily populated by people from the Tang Dynasty era, but by Chinese people from various regions who settled in these districts over time.