If youâre wondering where the name of this popular tile design originated, weâll give you one guess. Hint: The answer is obvious. You guessed it! Subway tiles were first used in New York City subways â or mass transit tunnels â in the early nineteenth century. Since then, subway tile has stood the test of time as one of the industryâs most timeless tile choices. You may wonder why such a plain rectangular shape would still be in demand today? The answer is as simple as its shape: Versatility.














