List of companies named after people
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of companies named after people. For other lists of eponyms (names derived from people) see Lists of etymologies.
| Contents: | Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
|---|
[edit] #
[edit] A
- A&M Records – Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss
- A&W Restaurants – after Roy Allen and Frank Wright
- A.G. Edwards – Albert Gallatin Edwards
- Abbott Laboratories – Wallace Calvin Abbott (1888)
- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. – David Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch
- Adam Opel AG – Adam Opel
- Abrams Air Craft - Talbert Abrams
- adidas – Adi Dassler
- Alza – name of the founder Alex Zaffaroni.
- Amstrad – Alan Sugar - Alan Michael Sugar Trading
- Anheuser-Busch - Adolphus Busch and Lilly and Eberhard Anheuser
- The Anschutz Corporation - Philip Anschutz
- Archer Daniels – George A. Archer and John W. Daniels
- Armani - Giorgio Armani
- Aston Martin – Lionel Martin
- Audi – founder August Horch (audi is Latin for horch which means listen in English)
- Avery Dennison Corporation – R. Stanton Avery
[edit] B
- B&Q – from the initials of its founders, Block and Quayle
- Baedeker's – Karl Baedeker
- Baker International (to Baker Hughes – Reuben C. Baker
- Baldwin Locomotive Works – founded by Matthias W. Baldwin
- Ball Corp. - the Ball Brothers
- Barnes & Noble – William Barnes and G. Clifford Noble
- Bausch and Lomb – John Jacob Bausch and Henry Lomb
- Bayer – Friedrich Bayer
- BEA Systems – from the first initial of each of the company's three founders: Bill Coleman, Ed Scott and Alfred Chuang.
- Beck's – Heinrich Beck (1873)
- Beckman Coulter - Arnold O. Beckman
- Bell Aircraft – Lawrence Bell
- Bell Telephone Company, Bell System – Alexander Graham Bell
- Bennett Schneider – Bennett Bernard Schneider
- Benz & Cie. (later Daimler-Benz) – Carl Benz
- Black & Decker – S. Duncan Black and Alonzo G. Decker
- Boeing – William Boeing
- Bose Corporation – Amar Bose
- Brentano's – August Brentano
- Briggs & Stratton – Stephen Foster Briggs and Harold M. Stratton
- Brooks Locomotive Works – founded by Horatio G. Brooks
- Buick - David Dunbar Buick
- Bulgari - founder Sotirios Bulgari
- B&L MACHINE WORKS from its founders Brad & lemuel Dreher
[edit] C
- Cadbury – John Cadbury opened his shop in 1824
- Cadillac - Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac, founder of Detroit, Michigan
- Calvin Klein - Calvin Klein
- CKE Restaurants – founded as Carl Karcher Enterprises
- Casio – Tadao Kashio
- Charles Schwab Corporation - Charles R. Schwab
- Chase National Bank (to Chase Manhattan Bank and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. – in honor of Salmon P. Chase
- Chevrolet - Louis Chevrolet
- Chrysler (to DaimlerChrysler) – Walter Chrysler
- Citroën – André Citroën
- Colgate-Palmolive – Henry W. Colgate
- Collins Radio Company - Arthur A. Collins
- Coors Brewing Company, Adolph Coors Company - Adolph Coors
- Corel – from the founder's name Dr. Michael Cowpland. It stands for COwpland REsearch Laboratory.
- Cray Research – Seymour Cray
- Cummins – Clessie Cummins
- Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company (to Curtiss-Wright) – Glenn Curtiss
[edit] D
- Daimler-Benz (to DaimlerChrysler) – Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz
- Danelectro – Nathan Daniel
- Dassault Group – Marcel Dassault
- De Lorean Motor Company – John De Lorean
- Dean Guitars – Dean Zelinsky
- Debian – project founder Ian Murdock named it after himself and his girlfriend, Debra.
- Deere & Company - John Deere
- Dell – Michael Dell
- Dick's Sporting Goods – Dick Stack
- Dillard's – William T. Dillard
- Dolby Laboratories – Ray Dolby
- Douglas Aircraft Company (to McDonnell Douglas) – Donald Wills Douglas, Sr.
- The Dow Chemical Company – Herbert Dow
- Dow Jones & Company – Charles Dow and Edward Jones
- Duke Energy – James Buchanan Duke
- Dunlop – John Boyd Dunlop
- Dunlop Manufacturing – Jim Dunlop
- DuPont – Eleuthère Irénée du Pont.
[edit] E
- Eastman Kodak – George Eastman
- Eatons – Timothy Eaton
- Edison Records – Thomas Edison
- Eli Lilly and Company – Eli Lilly
- Ericsson – Lars Magnus Ericsson
[edit] F
- Fender – Leo Fender
- Ferrari – Enzo Ferrari, founder
- Fitch Ratings - John Knowles Fitch
- Ford Motor Company – Henry Ford
- Fox – William Fox
- FranklinCovey – Benjamin Franklin and Stephen Covey. The company was formed in a 1997 merger of FranklinQuest and the Covey Leadership Center. FranklinQuest was best known for selling personal management systems inspired by the writings of Benjamin Franklin.
[edit] G
- Gannett Company – Frank Gannett
- Gartner – Gideon Gartner
- Getty Images – Mark Getty
- Getty Oil – John Paul Getty
- Ghirardelli Chocolate Company – Domingo Ghirardelli
- Gibson Guitar Corporation – Orville Gibson
- Glenn L. Martin Company (to Lockheed Martin) – Glenn Luther Martin
- Global Gillette – King C. Gillette
- GLOCK GmbH – Gaston Glock
- Godin – Robert Godin
- Goldman Sachs – Marcus Goldman and Samuel Sachs
- Goldwyn Picture Corporation (to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) – a combination of the names of Samuel Goldfish (he later adopted the name Samuel Goldwyn), Edgar and Archibald Selwyn
- Goodrich Corporation - Benjamin Goodrich
- Gottlieb – David Gottlieb
- Gretsch – Friedrich Gretsch
[edit] H
- H&R Block – Henry W. Bloch and Richard Bloch
- H. J. Heinz Company - Henry John Heinz
- H. K. Porter, Inc – Henry Kirke Porter
- Halliburton – Erle P. Halliburton
- Hammond Organ - Laurens Hammond
- Hanna-Barbera Productions – William Hanna and Joseph Barbera
- Harley-Davidson – William Harley and Arthur Davidson
- Harman Kardon – Sidney Harman and Bernard Kardon
- Harrah's Entertainment – William F. Harrah
- Harvey Norman – Gerald Harvey and Ian Norman
- Hasbro - the Hassenfeld Brothers
- The Hershey Company – Milton Hershey
- Hewitt Associates – Ted Hewitt
- Hewlett-Packard – William Hewlett and David Packard
- Hilton Hotels – Conrad Hilton
- Honda – Soichiro Honda
- Honeywell – Mark Honeywell
- Horlicks – James Horlick and William Horlick
- Hormel – George A. Hormel
- Hovnanian Enterprises – Kevork Hovnanian
- Hughes Aircraft, Hughes Tool Company (to Baker Hughes), Hughes Airwest – Howard Hughes
[edit] I
- IKEA – from an acronym using the initials of the founder Ingvar Kamprad, who was from a family farm called Elmtaryd, which was near the village of Agunnaryd.
[edit] J
- J. P. Morgan & Co. – J. P. Morgan
- Jackson Guitars – Grover Jackson
- JCPenney – James Cash Penney
[edit] K
- Kawasaki Heavy Industries – Shozo Kawasaki
- Kellogg Company – John Harvey Kellogg
- Kent H. Landsberg Company - founder Kent H. Landsberg
- Kroger Co. – Bernard Henry Kroger
- King Kullen Grocery Co. – founder Michael J. Cullen, he replaced the "C" with a "K" for marketing purposes.
- Knight Ridder – John S. Knight (Knight Newspapers, Inc.) and Herman Ridder (Ridder Publications, Inc.)
- Kohl's – Max Kohl
[edit] L
- Lafarge – Joseph-Auguste Pavin de Lafarge
- Laidlaw – Robert Laidlaw
- Lamborghini – Ferruccio Lamborghini
- Lancia – Vicenzo Lancia
- Lazard – Alexandre Lazard, Simon Lazard, and Elie Lazard
- Lee Enterprises – A. W. Lee
- Lehman Brothers – Henry Lehman, Emanuel Lehman and Meyer Lehman
- Leslie - Donald Leslie
- Levi Strauss & Co. – Levi Strauss
- Lincoln National Corporation - to convey the integrity of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln
- Liz Claiborne, Inc. - Elisabeth Claiborne Ortenberg
- Lockheed Corporation (to Lockheed Martin) - Allan Haines Loughead and Malcolm Loughead
- Lorillard Tobacco Company – Pierre Lorillard IV
- Louis B. Mayer Pictures (to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) – Louis B. Mayer
[edit] M
- Marriott Corporation (later split into Host Marriott and Marriott International) – founder J. Willard Marriott
- Mars, Incorporated – Frank C. Mars
- Marshall Amplification – Jim Marshall
- Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia – Martha Stewart
- Mattel – from founders Harold "Matt" Matson and Elliot Handler
- Maytag – F. L. Maytag
- Mazda – Jujiro Matsuda, also possibly inspired by Zoroastrian god Ahura Mazda.
- McAfee – John McAfee
- McCaw Cellular – Craig McCaw
- McDonald's – Dick and Mac McDonald
- McDonnell Aircraft (to McDonnell Douglas) – James Smith McDonnell
- McGraw-Hill – John A. Hill and James H. McGraw
- McKesson – John McKesson
- Mellon Financial Corporation – Thomas Mellon
- Merrill Lynch – Charles E. Merrill and Edmund C. Lynch
- MGM or Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer – after the last names of Samuel Goldfish and Edgar and Archibald Selwyn and Louis B. Mayer.
- Miele – Carl Miele.
- Mitel – from Mike and Terry's Lawnmowers after the founders Michael Cowpland and Terry Matthews
- Molson - John Molson
- Moog Music – Dr. Robert Moog
- Morgan Stanley - Henry S. Morgan and Harold Stanley
[edit] N
- Nestlé – Henri Nestlé who created the milk-based food in 1867
- Northrop – Jack Northrop
[edit] O
[edit] P
- Pathé – Charles and Émile Pathé, who founded the Société Pathé Frères in 1896
- Peavey Electronics – Hartley Peavey
- PerkinElmer - Richard Scott Perkin and Charles Elmer
- Perot Systems - H. Ross Perot, Jr.
- Peugeot – Armand Peugeot who founded the company in 1882
- Pfizer - Charles Pfizer
- Philips – Gerard Philips, who founded the company in 1891
- Pontiac - Chief Pontiac, leader of Pontiac's Rebellion
- Porsche – Ferdinand Porsche
- Procter & Gamble – William Procter and James Gamble
- PRS Guitars – Paul Reed Smith
[edit] Q
[edit] R
- R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (RJR) - R. J. Reynolds
- Robert Bosch GmbH – Robert Bosch
- Renault – Louis Renault
- REO Motor Car Company - Ransom E. Olds
- Rickenbacker – Adolph Rickenbacher
- Rockwell International, North American Rockwell, Rockwell Semiconductor – Willard Rockwell
- Rogers Locomotive and Machine Works – Thomas Rogers
- Rolls-Royce plc/Rolls-Royce Motor Cars – Charles Rolls and Henry Royce
- RSA Security – from the first letters of the last names of founders Ronald Rivest, Adi Shamir and Len Adleman.
- Ryanair – Tony Ryan
[edit] S
- S. C. Johnson & Son - Samuel Curtis Johnson, Sr.
- Sainsbury's – John James Sainsbury
- Sears – Richard Sears
- Formerly Sears, Roebuck – Sears and Alvah Roebuck
- Sherwin-Williams Company - Henry Sherwin and Edward Williams
- Siemens AG – Werner von Siemens
- Singer Corporation – Issac Merritt Singer, inventor, improvements in the design of the sewing machine
- Stanley Works - Frederick Trent Stanley
- Stewart-Warner – John K. Stewart and Arthur P. Warner
- Suzuki – Michio Suzuki
[edit] T
- Tata – Jamsetji Tata
- Tesco – amalgamation of TES (from T. E. Stockwell) and CO (from Jack Cohen)
- Thomas Cook Travel, Thomas Cook Airlines, Thomas Cook
- Various named after Elihu Thomson
- THX – from the name of the technology's inventor and the audio technology of a 'crossover' amplifier: Tomlinson Holman
- Tiffany & Co. - Charles Lewis Tiffany
- Tim Hortons – Tim Horton
- Timken Company - Henry Timken
- Toyota – Sakichi Toyoda
- Trump Air Shuttle, airline, named after owner Donald Trump
- TVR – from the first name of the company founder TreVoR Wilkinson
- Tommy Hilfiger Corporation - Thomas Jacob Hilfiger
[edit] U
[edit] V
[edit] W
- W. R. Grace and Company - William Russell Grace
- W. W. Norton - William Warder Norton
- Waitrose – named after founders: Wallace Waite and Arthur Rose
- The Walt Disney Company – Walt Disney
- Wal-Mart – Sam Walton
- Warner Bros – the brothers Jack Warner, Sam Warner, Harold Warner and Albert Warner
- Wendy's – founder Dave Thomas' daughter Melinda "Wendy" Thomas
- Westinghouse Electric - George Westinghouse
- WHSmith – William Henry Smith
- Wright Company, Wright Aeronautical (to Wright-Martin) – Orville and Wilbur Wright
- Wrigley Company - William Wrigley Jr.
[edit] X
[edit] Y
[edit] Z
- Zend Technologies – Co-Founders Zeev Suraski & Andi Gutmans
