List of companies named after people

#

20th Century Fox and 21st Century Fox – William Fox

A

A. G. Edwards – Albert Gallatin Edwards

A&M Records – Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss

A&W Restaurants – Roy Allen and Frank Wright

Abbott Laboratories – Wallace Calvin Abbott (1888)

Abercrombie & Fitch – David T. Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch

Abrams Air Craft – Talbert Abrams

Abt Sportsline – Johann Abt

Adam Opel AG – Adam Opel

Adidas – Adi Dassler (Adolf Dassler)

Aditya Birla Group - Ghanshyam Das Birla

Agusta – Giovanni Agusta

AGV – Gino Amisano (Amisano Gino Valenza)

Air Jordan - Michael Jordan

Aitken Spence – Patrick Gordon Spence, Edward Aitken and S.R. Aitken

Ajo Motorsport – Aki Ajo

Albert Heijn and Ahold (Albert Heijn Holdings) – Albert Heijn

Aldi – Theo and Karl Albrecht (ALbrecht DIscount)

Alessi – Giovanni Alessi

Alex von Falkenhausen Motorenbau – Alex von Falkenhausen

Alza – ALex ZAffaroni.

AMAX Technologies - Aneez Abdul Rahman

Amdahl Corporation – Gene Amdahl

AMG – Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher (Aufrecht Melcher Großaspach)

Amon – Chris Amon

Amstrad – Alan Sugar (Alan Michael Sugar Trading)

Anatra – Artur Antonovich Anatra

Andrea Moda Formula – Andrea Sassetti

Angie's List – Angie Hicks

Anheuser-Busch – Lilly and Eberhard Anheuser, and Adolphus Busch

Ann Summers – Annice Summers, secretary of founder Michael Caborn-Waterfield

Ansaldo – Giovanni Ansaldo

The Anschutz Corporation – Philip Anschutz

Antonov – Oleg Antonov

Arai Helmet – Hirotake Arai

Archer Daniels – George A. Archer and John W. Daniels

Armani – Giorgio Armani

Arrows – Franco Ambrosio, Alan Rees, Jackie Oliver, Dave Wass, and Tony Southgate

ARTA – Aguri Suzuki (Autobacs Racing Team Aguri)

Arzani-Volpini – Egidio Arzani and Gianpaolo Volpini

AS Watson – Alexander Skirving Watson

Aston Butterworth – Bill Aston and Archie Butterworth

Aston Martin – Lionel Martin

Audi – August Horch (audi is Latin for horch which means listen in English)

Austin Motor Company – Herbert Austin

Avery Dennison Corporation – R. Stanton Avery

AviaBellanca Aircraft – Giuseppe Mario Bellanca

B

B&H Photo Video – Blimie and Herman Schreiber

B&Q – Richard Block and David Quayle

Babolat – Pierre Babolat (1842–1892)

Bacardi – Facundo Bacardi

Baedeker's – Karl Baedeker

Bajaj Auto – Jamnalal Bajaj, India

Baker Curb Racing – Gary Baker and Mike Curb

Baker International (to Baker Hughes) – Reuben C. Baker

Baldwin Locomotive Works – Matthias W. Baldwin

Ball Corporation – the Ball Brothers

Ballet Rambert – Dame Marie Rambert

Bandini Automobili – Ilario Bandini

Bang & Olufsen – Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen

Bankable Productions – Tyra Banks

Bannatyne's – Duncan Bannatyne

Banta Corporation – George Banta, Sr.

Barilla Group – Pietro Barilla

Barings Bank – Francis Baring and John Baring (1730–1816)

Barclays – James Barclay

Barnardo's – Thomas John Barnardo

Barnes & Noble – William Barnes and G. Clifford Noble

Barneys New York – Barney Pressman

Bashas' – Eddie Basha, Sr.

Baskin-Robbins – Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins

Bass & Co – William Bass

Bausch & Lomb – John Jacob Bausch and Henry Lomb

Bayer – Friedrich Bayer

BBS – Heinrich Baumgartner and Klaus Brand (Baumgartner Brand Schiltach)

BEA Systems – Bill Coleman, Ed Scott, and Alfred Chuang

Beckman Coulter – Arnold O. Beckman

Beck's – Heinrich Beck (1873)

Behra – Jean Behra

Beiersdorf - Paul Carl Beiersdorf

Bell Aircraft – Lawrence Bell

Bell & Ross – Bruno BELamich and Carlos A. ROSillo

Bell Telephone Company, Bell System – Alexander Graham Bell

Bellasi – Guglielmo Bellasi

Ben & Jerry's – Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield

Benbros – Jack and Nathan Beneson (BENeson BROtherS)

Benelli – Teresa Benelli

Benetton Group – Luciano Benetton

Bentalls – Frank Bentall

Bentley – W. O. Bentley

Benz & Cie. (later Daimler-Benz) – Karl Benz

Beretta – Bartolomeo Beretta

Beriev – Georgy Beriev

Berluti – Alessandro Berluti

Berton – Pieter BERvoets and Ron TON

Bertone – Giovanni Bertone

Bianchi Bicycles – Edoardo Bianchi

Bickerton – Harry Bickerton

Bimota – Valerio BIanchi, Giuseppe MOrri, and Massimo TAmburini

Bing Lee – Bing Lee (company founder)

Bird's Custard – Alfred Bird

Birds Eye – Clarence Birdseye

Black & Decker (to Stanley Black & Decker) – S. Duncan Black and Alonzo G. Decker

Blohm + Voss – Hermann Blohm and Ernst Voss

Bloomberg L.P. – Michael Bloomberg

Bloomingdale's – Joseph and Lyman G. Bloomingdale

Boardman Bikes – Chris Boardman

Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving – Bob Bondurant

Bocar – BOb CARnes

Boddingtons – Henry Boddington

The Bodley Head – in honour of Thomas Bodley, whose bust stood above the founders' shop

Boeing – William Boeing

Bölkow – Ludwig Bölkow

Bombardier Inc. – Joseph-Armand Bombardier

Bomgar - Joel Bomgaars

Bonhams – Walter Bonham

Bonnier Group – Gerhard Bonnier

Booth's Gin – John Booth

Boots – Jesse Boot

Borders Group – Tom and Louis Borders

Boro – BOb and ROdy Hoogenboom

Bosch - Robert Bosch

Bose Corporation – Amar Bose, Indian

Brabham – Jack Brabham

Brabus – Klaus BRAckmann and Bodo BUSchmann

Brad Jones Racing – Brad Jones

Bradley.com - George Bradley

Brains Brewery – Samuel Arthur Brain

Brawn GP – Ross Brawn

Brentano's – August Brentano

Brewco Motorsports – Clarence and Tammy Brewer

Brian Hart Ltd. – Brian Hart

Bridgestone – Shojiro Ishibashi; the name comes from a calque translation and transposition of "ishibashi," meaning "stone bridge"

Briggs & Stratton – Stephen Foster Briggs and Harold M. Stratton

Britek Motorsport – Jason BRIght

Brooke Bond – Arthur Brooke

Brooks Locomotive Works – founded by Horatio G. Brooks

Brooks Sports – an anglicized version of "Bruchs," the maiden name of founder Morris Goldberg's wife

Brun Motorsport – Walter Brun

Bryant and May – William Bryant and Francis May

Bugatti – Ettore Bugatti

Buick – David Dunbar Buick

Bulgari – the Italianized version of the family name of company founder Sotirios Voulgaris

Bulova – Joseph Bulova

Burberry – Thomas Burberry

BVD – Messrs. Bradley, Voorhees and Day

C

C. H. Robinson Worldwide - Charles Henry Robinson

C&A – Clemens and August Brenninkmeijer

Cabela's – Dick Cabela

Cadbury – John Cadbury

Cadillac – Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac, founder of Detroit, Michigan

Cagiva – Giovanni Castiglioni (CAstiglioni GIovanni VArese)

Callaway Cars – Reeves Callaway

Callaway Golf Company – Ely R. Callaway, Jr.

Calvin Klein – Calvin Klein

Cammell Laird - Charles Cammell and William Laird

Campagnolo – Tullio Campagnolo

Campari – Davide Campari

Campbell Soup Company – Joseph A. Campbell

Canon – see Kwanon

Carl Zeiss AG – Carl Zeiss

Carlyle Group – Thomas Carlyle (indirectly, via the Carlyle Hotel)

Casio – Tadao Kashio

Cassell – John Cassell

Celine – Celine Vipiana

Cerruti 1881 – Nino Cerruti

Chanel – Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel

Charles Schwab Corporation – Charles R. Schwab

Charles Wells Ltd (now Wells & Young's Brewery) – Charles Wells

Chase National Bank (to Chase Manhattan Bank and JPMorgan Chase & Co.) – in honor of Salmon P. Chase

Chevrolet – Louis Chevrolet

Chip Ganassi Racing – Chip Ganassi

Christian Dior – Christian Dior

Christian Salvesen – Christian Salvesen

Christie's – James Christie

Chrysler – Walter Chrysler

Citroën – André Citroën

Cizeta – Claudio Zampolli

CKE Restaurants – founded as Carl Karcher Enterprises

Clarks – Cyrus and James Clark

Claud Butler – Claud Butler

Clif Bar – Clifford Erickson (father of founder Gary Erickson)

Cokin – Jean Coquin

Colgate-Palmolive – William Colgate

Collins Radio Company – Arthur A. Collins

Colnago – Ernesto Colnago

Coloni – Enzo Coloni

Colt's Manufacturing Company, Colt Defense, Colt Canada – Samuel Colt

Condé Nast Publications – Condé Montrose Nast

Connolly Leather – John Connolly

Cooper Car Company – Charles and John Cooper

Coors Brewing Company, Adolph Coors Company – Adolph Coors

Cord Automobile – Errett Lobban Cord

Corel – Michael Cowpland (COwpland REsearch Laboratory)

Cosworth – Mike COStin and Keith DuckWORTH

Courage Compétition – Yves Courage

Cox Models – Roy Cox

Crane & Co. – Stephen Crane or the Crane family

Cray Research – Seymour Cray

Crumpler – Stuart Crumpler (co-founder)

Cummins – Clessie Cummins

Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company (to Curtiss-Wright) – Glenn Curtiss

Cushman & Wakefield – J.Clydesdale Cushman and Bernard Wakefield

D

D Edits - Dale Cachia

D. G. Yuengling & Son – David, Jr. and David G. Jüngling (anglicized surname)

Daimler-Benz (later DaimlerChrysler, now Daimler AG) – Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz

Dallara – Gian Paolo Dallara

Damiani – Enrico Grassi Damiani

Danelectro – Nathan Daniel

Dangote Group - Aliko Dangote

Danjaq - Dana Broccoli and Jacqueline Saltzman, wives of company founders Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman

d’Antin MotoGP – see Pramac d'Antin

Dargaud – Georges Dargaud

Dassault Group – Marcel Dassault

Datsun – Kenjiro Den, Rokuro Aoyama, and Meitaro Takeuchi

Dauer Sportwagen – Jochen Dauer

David Jones Limited - David Jones

David Lloyd Leisure – David Lloyd

David Price Racing – David Price

DBZ Guitars – Dean B. Zelinsky

De Agostini – Giovanni De Agostini

De Tomaso – Alejandro de Tomaso

Dean & DeLuca – Joel Dean and Giorgio DeLuca

Dean Guitars – Dean Zelinsky

Debenhams – William Debenham

formerly Debenham & Freebody – Debenham and Clement Freebody

Debian – IAN Murdock and his girlfriend, DEBra

Deere & Company – John Deere

Dell – Michael Dell

Deloitte – William Welch Deloitte

DeLorean Motor Company – John DeLorean

DHL Express – Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom, and Robert Lynn

Dick Johnson Racing – Dick Johnson

Dick's Sporting Goods – Dick Stack

Dillard's – William T. Dillard

Dodge – John and Horace Dodge

Dolby Laboratories – Ray Dolby

Dolce & Gabbana – Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana

Dollond & Aitchison – John and Peter Dollond and James Aitchison

Don Bluth Entertainment – see Sullivan Bluth Studios

Double R Racing, formerly Räikkönen Robertson Racing – Kimi Räikkönen and Steve Robertson

Douglas Aircraft Company (to McDonnell Douglas) – Donald Wills Douglas, Sr.

The Dow Chemical Company – Herbert Dow

Dow Jones & Company – Charles Dow and Edward Jones

D'Oyly Carte Opera Company – Richard D'Oyly Carte

Dr. Bashi - Golbarg Bashi

Dr. Oetker - August Oetker

Ducati – Antonio Cavalieri Ducati (1853–1927)

Duesenberg – Fred and August Duesenberg

Duke Energy – James Buchanan Duke

Duke Video – Peter Duke

DuMont Television Network & DuMont Laboratories - Allen B. DuMont

Dunlop – John Boyd Dunlop

Dunlop Manufacturing – Jim Dunlop

DuPont – Eleuthère Irénée du Pont

Dyson – James Dyson

E

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates – Dale Earnhardt (Sr.), Chip Ganassi, Felix Sabates

Eastman Kodak – George Eastman

Easton – Doug Easton

Eatons – Timothy Eaton

Eddie Bauer – Eddie Bauer

Eddie Jordan Racing – Eddie Jordan

Eddie Stobart – see Stobart Group

Edelbrock – Vic Edelbrock

Edison Records – Thomas Edison

Eli Lilly and Company – Eli Lilly

Ellis Briggs – Leonard Ellis and Thomas Briggs

Ericsson – Lars Magnus Ericsson

Ermenegildo Zegna – Ermenegildo Zegna

Ernst Paul Lehmann Patentwerk

Estée Lauder Companies – Estée Lauder

EuroBrun – Walter Brun

F

Fabbri Group – Romolo Fabbri

Faber and Faber – Geoffrey Faber

Falabella – Salvatore Falabella

Fazer – Karl Fazer

FB Mondial – Fratelli Boselli

Felt Bicycles – Jim Felt

Fender – Leo Fender

Fendi – Edoardo Fendi

Ferguson Research – Harry Ferguson

Ferragamo – Salvatore Ferragamo

Ferranti – Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti

Ferrari – Enzo Ferrari

Ferrero – Pietro Ferrero

Ferretti Group – Alessandro and Norberto Ferretti

Fielmann - Günther Fielmann

Filippi Boats – Filippi Lido

Fioravanti – Leonardo Fioravanti

Fisher-Price – Herman Fisher and Irving Price

Fitch Ratings – John Knowles Fitch

Fittipaldi Automotive – Emerson and Wilson Fittipaldi

Focke-Wulf – Henrich Focke and Georg Wulf (1895-1927)

Fokker – Anthony Fokker

Forbes – B. C. Forbes

Ford Motor Company – Henry Ford

Forti – Guido Forti

Fortnum & Mason – William Fortnum and Hugh Mason

Fox Racing – Geoff Fox

Fox Racing Shox – Bob Fox

Franck Muller – Franck Muller

Frank Williams Racing Cars – Frank Williams

Franklin Mint – believed to be named in honor of Benjamin Franklin

FranklinCovey – Benjamin Franklin and Stephen Covey

Frazer Nash – Archibald Frazer-Nash

Freisinger Motorsport – Manfred Freisinger

Fresenius - Eduard Fresenius

Frost French – Sadie Frost and Jemima French

Fuller, Smith & Turner – John Fuller, Henry Smith and John Turner

G

Galen Institute - health care think tank named after Galen, a prominent Greek physician

Galles Racing – Rick Galles

Galmer – Rick GALles and Alan MERtens

Gannett Company – Frank Gannett

Garmin – GARy Burrell and Dr. MIN Kao

Gartner – Gideon Gartner

Garry Rogers Motorsport – Garry Rogers

Gatti's Pizza – Pat Eure, née Gatti, wife of company founder Jim Eure

Gemballa – Uwe Gemballa

Geojit BNP Paribas - C J George, Ranajit Kanjilal & BNP Paribas

George Dickel – George A. Dickel

Getty Images – Mark Getty

Getty Oil – John Paul Getty

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company – Domingo Ghirardelli

Giannini – Tranquillo Giannini

Gibson Guitar Corporation – Orville Gibson

Gibson Motor Sport – Fred Gibson

Gilbarco – Charles Gilbert and John Barker (GILbert & BARker Manufacturing CO.)

Gilera – Giuseppe Gilera

Gillet – Tony Gillet

Gillette – King C. Gillette

Girard-Perregaux – Constant Girard and Marie Perregaux

Gitzo – Arsène Gitzhoven

Givenchy – Hubert de Givenchy

Glenn L. Martin Company (to Lockheed Martin) – Glenn Luther Martin

Glenn Seton Racing – Glenn Seton

Glock Ges.m.b.H. – Gaston Glock

GN – H.R. Godfrey and Archibald Frazer Nash

Godin – Robert Godin

Goldman Sachs – Marcus Goldman and Samuel Sachs

Goldwyn Picture Corporation – Samuel GOLDfish, Edgar and Archibald SelWYN

Goodrich Corporation – Benjamin Goodrich

Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company – Charles Goodyear

Gordon's Gin – Alexander Gordon

Gottlieb – David Gottlieb

Greggs – John Gregg

Gresini Racing – Fausto Gresini

Gretsch – Friedrich Gretsch

GT Bicycles – Gary Turner

Gucci – Guccio Gucci

Guinness – Arthur Guinness

Gumpert – Roland Gumpert

Guthy-Renker – Bill Guthy and Greg Renker

H

H-E-B – Howard Edward Butt (founder's son; turned the family grocery store into a supermarket chain)

H. J. Baker and Bro., Inc. – Henry J. Baker

H. J. Heinz Company – Henry John Heinz

H.K. Porter, Inc. – Henry Kirke Porter

H&R Block – Henry W. Bloch and Richard Bloch

Haas Automation – Gene Haas

Haas Lola – Carl Haas

Haas Outdoors, Inc. - Toxey Haas

Hachette Filipacchi Médias – Louis Hachette and Daniel Filipacchi

Haldanes – Founding chairman Arthur Haldane Harris

Halliburton – Erle P. Halliburton

Hamann Motorsport – Richard Hamann

Hamish Hamilton – Jamie Hamilton

Hamleys – William Hamley

Hämmerli – Johann Ulrich Hämmerli

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

Haro Bikes – Bob Haro

HarperCollins – James Harper and William Collins

Harrah's Entertainment – William F. Harrah

Harrods – Charles Henry Harrod

Harvey Nichols – Benjamin Harvey and James Nichols

Harvey Norman – Gerald Harvey and Ian Norman

Hasbro – the HASsenfeld BROthers

Hasegawa Corporation – Suguro Hasegawa

Hasselblad – Victor Hasselblad

Hatchards – John Hatchard

Heal's – John Harris Heal

Hearst Corporation – William Randolph Hearst

Heckler & Koch – Edmund Heckler and Theodor Koch

Heineken International – Gerard Adriaan Heineken

Heinemann – William Heinemann

Hendrick Motorsports – Rick Hendrick

Henkel - Friedrich Karl Henkel

Hennessey Performance - John Hennessey

Hennessy – Richard Hennessy

Herpa – Wilhelm Hergenröther (HERgenröther und PAtente)

The Hershey Company – Milton Hershey

Hesburger – Heikki Salmela

Hesketh Racing, Hesketh Motorcycles – Alexander Fermor-Hesketh, 3rd Baron Hesketh

Heuer – see TAG Heuer

Hewitt Associates – Ted Hewitt

Hewlett-Packard – William Hewlett and David Packard

Hillman – William Hillman

Hilton Hotels – Conrad Hilton

HKS – Hiroyuki Hasegawa and Goichi Kitagawa (plus Sigma Automotive)

Hodder & Stoughton – Matthew Hodder and Thomas Wilberforce Stoughton

Hohner – Matthias Hohner

Holland & Barrett – William Holland and Alfred Slapps Barrett

Holman Moody – John Holman and Ralph Moody

Honda – Soichiro Honda

Honeywell – Mark Honeywell

Horlicks – James Horlick and William Horlick

Hormel – George A. Hormel

Hornby Railways – Frank Hornby

Hoshino Impul – Kazuyoshi Hoshino

Hovnanian Enterprises – Kevork Hovnanian

Hughes Aircraft, Hughes Tool Company (to Baker Hughes), Hughes Airwest – Howard Hughes

Hugo Boss – Hugo Boss

Humber – Thomas Humber

Huntley and Palmers – Joseph Huntley and George Palmer

I

IKEA – Ingvar Kamprad, who was from a family farm called Elmtaryd, which was near the village of Agunnaryd

illy – Andrea Illy

Ilmor – Mario ILlien and Paul MORgan

Ilyushin – Sergey Ilyushin

Ind Coope - Edward Ind and Octavius Coope

Ingle & Rhode – Tim Ingle and David Rhode

Innocenti – Ferdinando Innocenti

Irmscher – Günther Irmscher

Islabikes – Isla Rowntree

Italdesign Giugiaro – Giorgetto Giugiaro

J

J. Barbour & Sons – John Barbour

J. C. Bamford – Joseph Cyril Bamford

JCPenney – James Cash Penney

J.J. Newberry – John Josiah Newberry

J.P. Morgan & Co. – J. P. Morgan

Jack Daniel Distillery – Jack Daniel

Jackson Guitars – Grover Jackson

Jacksons of Piccadilly – Robert Jackson

Jacob's – William and Robert Jacob

Jacuzzi – The Jacuzzi brothers

James Purdey and Sons – James Purdey

JBL – James Bullough Lansing

Jean Coutu Group – Jean Coutu

Jil Sander – Heidemarie "Jil" Sander

The Jim Henson Company – Jim Henson

Jimmy John's – Jimmy John Liautaud

JML – John Mills (Limited)

Jo-Han – JOhn HANley

Joe Gibbs Racing – Joe Gibbs

Joest Racing – Reinhold Joest

John Cooper Works – John Cooper

John Deere – John Deere

John Murray – John Murray I

John Player & Sons – John Player

John Smith's Brewery – John Smith

Johnnie Walker – John Walker

Johnson & Johnson – Robert Wood Johnson I, James Wood Johnson, and Edward Mead Johnson

Johnson Publishing – John H. Johnson

Jones Lang Wootton – the last names of its three principal members

Jordan Grand Prix – Eddie Jordan

JR Motorsports – Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (Earnhardt is frequently referred to in NASCAR circles as "Junior")

JTG Daugherty Racing – Jodi and Tad Geschickter, and Brad Daugherty

Judd – John Judd

Junkers – Hugo Junkers

K

Kaiser Aluminum, Kaiser Motors, Kaiser Permanente, Kaiser Shipyards, Kaiser Steel – Henry J. Kaiser

Kaiser-Frazer – Henry J. Kaiser and Joseph W. Frazer

Kärcher – Alfred Kärcher

Karstadt - Rudolph Karstadt

Kawasaki Heavy Industries – Kawasaki Shōzō

Kellogg Company – Will Keith Kellogg

Kelly Racing – John and Margaret Kelly

Kenwood Limited - Kenneth Maynard Wood

Kevin Harvick Incorporated – Kevin Harvick

Kimberly-Clark – John A. Kimberly and Charles B. Clark

King Kullen – 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.)

Koei – Kō Shibusawa and Eiji Fukuzawa (non-existent people)

Koenigsegg – Christian von Koenigsegg

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts – Jerome Kohlberg, Jr., Henry Kravis, and George R. Roberts

Kohl's – Max Kohl

Kojima Engineering – Matsuhisa Kojima

Kojima Productions – Hideo Kojima

Konami – Kagemasa KOuzuki, Yoshinobu NAkama, Tatuso MIyasako (another theory was Hiro Matsuda, and Shokichi Ishihara)

Konrad Motorsport – Franz Konrad

Kostoulas Recycling - Konstantinos Kostoulas

Kraft Foods – James L. Kraft

Kremer Racing – Erwin and Manfred Kremer

Kroger – Bernard Kroger

Kruse International – Russell W. Kruse

Kurtis Kraft – Frank Kurtis

Kuzma – Eddie Kuzma

Kwanon – Kannon(Japanese for the Buddhist bodhisattva Guan Yin)

L

L.L.Bean - Leon Leonwood Bean

Lacoste - Jean René Lacoste (1904–1996)

Lafarge – Joseph-Auguste Pavin de Lafarge

Lagardère Group – Jean-Luc Lagardère

Laidlaw – Robert Laidlaw

Lamborghini – Ferruccio Lamborghini

Lancia – Vicenzo Lancia

Lane Bryant – Lena Bryant (first name misspelled by a bank officer when she opened her company's first bank account)

Larrousse – Gérard Larrousse

Lauda Air – Niki Lauda

Lavazza – Luigi Lavazza

Laverda – Pietro Laverda

Lazard – Alexandre Lazard, Simon Lazard, and Elie Lazard

LDS – Louis Douglas Serrurier

Lee Enterprises – A. W. Lee

Lehman Brothers – Henry Lehman, Emanuel Lehman, and Meyer Lehman

Leica Camera, Leica Geosystems and Leica Microsystems – Ernst Leitz II (Leitz Camera)

LeMond Racing Cycles – Greg LeMond

Leslie – Donald Leslie

Lesney Products – Leslie Smith and Rodney Smith

Levi Strauss & Co. – Levi Strauss

Li Ning Company Limited – Li Ning

Liberty – Arthur Lasenby Liberty

Lidl – named for Ludwig Lidl

Life – Ernesto Vita (surname is Italian for life)

Ligier – Guy Ligier

Lincoln National Corporation – to convey the integrity of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln

Linde Group – Carl von Linde

Lipton – Thomas Lipton

Livingston International – Gerry Livingston

Liz Claiborne – Liz Claiborne

Lloyds Bank – Sampson Lloyd

Lloyd's of London – Edward Lloyd

Lockheed Corporation (to Lockheed Martin) – Allan Haines Loughead and Malcolm Loughead

Loews Theatres and Loews Corporation – Marcus Loew

Longman – Thomas Longman

Lonsdale – Hugh Cecil Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale

Lorillard Tobacco Company – Pierre Abraham Lorillard

Lotte – The Sorrows of Young Werther character Charlotte

Louis B. Mayer Pictures (to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) – Louis B. Mayer

Louis Vuitton – Louis Vuitton

Lowe Alpine and its offshoot Lowepro – Greg, Jeff, and Mike Lowe (founders)

Lucasfilm – George Lucas

LVMH – see separate entries of Louis Vuitton, Moët et Chandon, and Hennessy

M

M. D. Moody & Sons, Inc. - Maxey Dell Moody, Sr.

Macmillan – Daniel and Alexander Macmillan

Macy's – Rowland Hussey Macy

Mahindra Group – K.C. Mahindra and J.C. Mahindra, India

Maki – MimurA KenjI

Malaguti – Antonio Malaguti

Mamiya – Seichi Mamiya

Manfrotto Group – Lino Manfrotto

Mansory – Kourosh Mansory

March Engineering – Initials of Max Mosley, Alan Rees, Graham Coaker, and Robin Herd

Marchese – Carl Marchese

Marconi Company – Guglielmo Marconi

Marcus Marshall Motorsport – Marcus Marshall

Mark Levinson – Mark Levinson

Marks & Spencer – Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer

Marriott Corporation (later split into Host Marriott and Marriott International) – J. Willard Marriott

Mars, Incorporated – Frank C. Mars

Marsh & McLennan Companies – Henry W. Marsh and Donald R. McLennan

Marshall Amplification – Jim Marshall

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia – Martha Stewart

Martin-Baker – James Martin and Valentine Baker

Martini – Tico Martini

Martini & Rossi – Alessandro Martini and Luigi Rossi

Mary Kay, Inc. – Mary Kay Ash

Marzotto – Luigi Marzotto

Matsushita Electric Industrial – Konosuke Matsushita

Matrox – Branko MAtić and Lorne TROttier (and eXcellence)

Mattel – Harold MATT Matson and ELliot Handler

Mauser – Wilhelm and Paul Mauser

Max Factor – Max Factor, Sr (born Maksymilian Faktorowicz)

Maybach – Wilhelm and Karl Maybach

Maytag – F. L. Maytag

Mazda – Jujiro Matsuda, also possibly inspired by the Zoroastrian god Ahura Mazda

McAfee – John McAfee

McCaw Cellular – Craig McCaw

McDonald's – Richard and Maurice McDonald

McDonnell Aircraft (to McDonnell Douglas) – James Smith McDonnell

McGraw-Hill – John A. Hill and James H. McGraw

McKesson Corporation – John McKesson

McLaren – Bruce McLaren

McVitie's – Robert McVitie

Meijer – Hendrik Meijer

Mellon Financial Corporation – Thomas Mellon

Menards – John Menard, Jr.

Mercedes – named by Emil Jellinek for his daughter Mercédès Jellinek

Merck – Friedrich Jacob Merck

Merriam-Webster – George and Charles Merriam, and Noah Webster

Merrill Lynch – Charles E. Merrill and Edmund C. Lynch

Merzario – Arturo Merzario

Messerschmitt – Willy Messerschmitt

Methuen – Algernon Methuen

MG Cars – William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield (Morris Garages)

MGM or Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer – Samuel Goldfish, Edgar and Archibald Selwyn, and Louis B. Mayer

Michael Kors Holdings – Michael Kors

Michael Waltrip Racing – Michael Waltrip

Miele – Carl Miele

Mikoyan – Artem Mikoyan

MillenWorks – Rod Millen

Minardi – Giancarlo Minardi

Miramax Films – Miriam and Max Weinstein (parents of founders)

Mitel – Michael Cowpland and Terry Matthews (MIke and TErry's Lawnmowers)

Mitsuoka – Akio Mitsuoka

Moët et Chandon – Claude Moët and Pierre-Gabriel Chandon de Briailles

Molson – John Molson

Momo – Giampiero Moretti (MOretti MOnza)

Mondadori – Arnoldo Mondadori

Montague Bikes – David Montague

Monteverdi – Peter Monteverdi

Moog Music – Dr. Robert Moog

Morbidelli – Giancarlo Morbidelli

Morgan Motor Company – H.F.S. Morgan

Morgan Stanley – Henry S. Morgan and Harold Stanley

Morris Motors – William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield

Mosler Automotive – Warren Mosler

Moto Guzzi – Carlo Guzzi

Moto Morini – Alfonso Morini

MTM Enterprises – Mary Tyler Moore

Murphy's Brewery – James J. Murphy

MV Agusta – Vincenzo and Domenico Agusta

Myer - Sidney Myer

N

Nakajima Racing – Satoru Nakajima

Nakamichi – Etsuro Nakamichi

Namco – Masaya Nakamura (NAkamura Manufacturing COmpany)

Nardi – Enrico Nardi

Nash Motors – Charles Williams Nash

Neckermann - Josef Neckermann

Neiman Marcus – Herbert Marcus, Sr., Carrie Marcus Neiman, and A. L. Neiman

Nero AG – Nero

Nestlé – Henri Nestlé

Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing – Paul Newman, Carl Haas, and Mike Lanigan

Newman's Own – Paul Newman

Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy – Nick Bollettieri

Nielsen – Arthur Nielsen

Niki – Niki Lauda

Nobel Enterprises - Alfred Nobel

Norbert Dentressangle – Norbert Dentressangle

Nordstrom – John W. Nordstrom

Northrop – Jack Northrop

O

Offenhauser – Fred Offenhauser

Office Kitano – Takeshi Kitano

Öhlins – Kenth Öhlins

Oldsmobile – Ransom E. Olds

Olin Corporation – Franklin W. Olin

Olivetti – Camillo Olivetti

Orton Ceramic Foundation – Edward Orton, Jr.

Osella – Enzo Osella

Otis Elevator Company – Elisha Otis

Otto GmbH – Michael Otto

P

Pagani – Horacio Pagani

Pamida – PAtrick, MIchael, and DAvid Witherspoon, sons of company co-founder Jim Witherspoon

Panhard – René Panhard

Panoz – Don Panoz

Papa John's Pizza – "Papa" John Schnatter

Patek Philippe & Co. – Antoni Patek and Adrien Philippe

Pathé – Charles and Émile Pathé

Paul Cruickshank Racing – Paul Cruickshank

Paul K. Guillow, Inc. – Paul K. Guillow

Paul Morris Motorsport – Paul Morris

Peavey Electronics – Hartley Peavey

Peek Freans – James Peek and George Hender Frean

Penske Corporation – Roger Penske

PerkinElmer – Richard Scott Perkin and Charles Elmer

Perot Systems – H. Ross Perot, Jr.

Perry Ellis International – Perry Ellis

Petty Enterprises – Lee Petty

Peugeot – Armand Peugeot

Pfizer – Charles Pfizer

Philip Morris International and Philip Morris USA – Philip Morris

Philips – Gerard Philips

Piaggio – Rinaldo Piaggio

Pinarello – Giovanni Pinarello

Pininfarina – Sergio Pininfarina

Pirelli – Giovanni Battista Pirelli

Pontiac – Chief Pontiac

Porsche – Ferdinand Porsche

Porsche Design – Ferdinand Alexander Porsche

Powell Peralta – George Powell and Stacy Peralta

Prada – Mario Prada

Pramac d'Antin – Luis d'Antin

Pressman Toy Corporation – Jack Pressman

PricewaterhouseCoopers – Samuel Lowell Price, Edwin Waterhouse, William Cooper

Procter & Gamble – William Procter and James Gamble

Promotions Varoussac, original name of the wrestling promotion later known as Lutte Internationale – Frank Valois, André Roussimoff (aka André the Giant), Louis Accocella (aka Gino Brito)

Prost Grand Prix – Alain Prost

PRS Guitars – Paul Reed Smith

Pye – William George Pye

Q

Quaife – Rod Quaife

Qvale – Bruce Qvale

R

R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (RJR) – R. J. Reynolds

Railton – Reid Railton

Rainer-Wurz.com – Markus Rainer and Alexander Wurz

Ralt – Ron and Austin Lewis Tauranac

RAM Racing – Mike RAlph and John Macdonald

Rawlings – George and Alfred Rawlings

RE Amemiya – Asami Amemiya

Rebaque – Héctor Rebaque

Reiter Engineering – Hans Reiter

Renault – Louis Renault

Rensi-Hamilton Racing – Ed and Sam Rensi, and Bobby Hamilton, Jr.

REO Motor Car Company – Ransom E. Olds

Reuters – Paul Reuter

Reynard Motorsport – Adrian Reynard

Rethmann gmbh - Rethmann

Richard Childress Racing – Richard Childress

Richard Petty Motorsports – Richard Petty

Rickenbacker – Adolph Rickenbacher

Riddell – John Tate Riddell

Rieger Tuning – Toni Rieger

Riese und Müller – Markus Riese and Heiko Müller

Riley & Scott – Bob Riley and Mark Scott

Riley Motor – William Riley Jr.

Riley Technologies – Bob and Bill Riley

Rinspeed – Frank RINderknecht

Ripspeed – Keith Ripp

Rizzoli-Corriere della Sera – Angelo Rizzoli

RM Auctions – Rob Myers

RML Group – Ray Mallock

Robeez – Sandra Wilson's son Robert

Robert Bosch GmbH – Robert Bosch

Robert Yates Racing – see Yates Racing

Roberts Radio – Harry Roberts

Rockefeller Group – John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

Rockwell International, North American Rockwell, Rockwell Semiconductor – Willard Rockwell

Rod Millen Motorsports – see MillenWorks

Rod Nash Racing – Rod Nash

Rogers Communications – Edward S. "Ted" Rogers

Rogers Locomotive and Machine Works – Thomas Rogers

Rogers Vacuum Tube Company – Edward S. Rogers, Sr.

Rolls-Royce plc, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars – Charles Rolls and Henry Royce

Rondel Racing – RON Dennis and Neil TrunDLE

Rootes Group (now part of Peugeot) - William Rootes

Rossetti Architects – Gino Rossetti and Matthew L. Rossetti

Rothmans – Louis Rothman

Roush Performance, Roush Fenway Racing – Jack Roush

Rowntree's – Henry Isaac Rowntree

RPG Group – Rama Prasad Goenka, India

RSA Security – Ronald Rivest, Adi Shamir, and Len Adleman

Rudge-Whitworth – Daniel Rudge

Ruf Automobile – Alois Ruf

Russell & Bromley – Albion Russell and George Frederick Bromley

Ryanair – Tony Ryan

S

S. C. Johnson & Son – Samuel Curtis Johnson, Sr.

Sainsbury's – John James Sainsbury

Saks Fifth Avenue – Andrew Saks

Saleen – Steve Saleen

Sam's Club – Sam Walton

Samsonite – Samson

Samuel Smith Brewery – Samuel Smith

Santoni – Andrea and Rosa Santoni

Sauber – Peter Sauber

Savoia-Marchetti – Umberto Savoia and Alessandro Marchetti

Sbarro (U.S. pizza restaurant chain) – Gennaro and Carmela Sbarro

Sbarro (Swiss automaker) – Franco Sbarro

Schlecker - Anton Schlecker

Schnitzer Motorsport – Josef and Herbert Schnitzer

SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions - Herbert Schwind

Schwinn Bicycle Company – Ignaz Schwinn

Scott – Ed Scott

Sears – Richard Warren Sears

formerly Sears, Roebuck – Sears and Alvah Roebuck

Seeburg Corporation – Justus Sjöberg (Anglicized name)

Seecamp – Ludwig Wilhelm "Louis" Seecamp

Seedorf Racing – Clarence Seedorf

Selfridges – Harry Gordon Selfridge

Sennheiser electronic – Fritz Sennheiser

Shakespeare Fishing Tackle – William Shakespeare, Jr.

Shanghai Tang – David Tang

Shaw Brothers Studio, Shaw Organisation – Run Run Shaw and Runme Shaw

Sheetz – Bob Sheetz

Sherwin-Williams Company – Henry Sherwin and Edward Williams

Shimano – Shozaburo Shimano

Shugart Associates – Alan Shugart

Shure Incorporated – Sidney Shure

Siemens AG – Werner von Siemens

Sikorsky Aircraft – Igor Sikorsky

Simpson Performance Products – Bill Simpson

Sinclair Radionics, Sinclair Research, Sinclair Vehicles – Clive Sinclair

Singer Corporation – Isaac Merritt Singer

Singer Motors – George Singer

Skip Barber Racing School – Skip Barber

Smith and Nephew – Thomas James Smith and nephew Horatio Nelson Smith

Smith & Wesson – Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson

Sopwith Aviation Company – Thomas Sopwith

Sotheby's – John Sotheby

Spice Engineering – Gordon Spice

SRAM Corporation – Scott King, Stanley Ray Day, and SAM Patterson

Standard & Poor's – Henry Varnum Poor

Stanley Black & Decker – Frederick Trent Stanley, S. Duncan Black, and Alonzo G. Decker

formerly Stanley Works, named after the aforementioned Stanley

Steinway & Sons – Henry E. Steinway

Stern – Sam Stern

Stewart Grand Prix – Jackie and Paul Stewart

Stewart Haas Racing – Tony Stewart and Gene Haas (via Haas Automation)

Stewart-Warner – John K. Stewart and Arthur P. Warner

Stihl – Andreas Stihl

Stillen – STeve MILLEN

Stobart Group – Eddie Stobart

Stockmann – Georg Franz Stockmann

Stone Brothers Racing – Ross and Jim Stone

Strömberg – Gottfrid Strömberg

Sturm, Ruger – Alexander McCormick Sturm and William B. Ruger

Stutz Motor Company – Harry C. Stutz

Sukhoi – Pavel Sukhoi

Sullivan Bluth Studios – Don Bluth and Morris Sullivan

Sumitomo Group – Sumitomo Masatomo

Super Aguri F1 – Aguri Suzuki

Surtees – John Surtees

Suzuki – Michio Suzuki

Swarovski – Daniel Swarovski

T

Taft Broadcasting – Charles Phelps Taft

TAG Heuer – Eduardo Heuer

Tamiya – Yoshio Tamiya

Tandy Corporation - Dave L. Tandy

Tanfoglio – Tanfoglio Giuseppe

Taser International – Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle

Tata – Jamsetji Tata, India

Tate & Lyle - Henry Tate and Abram Lyle

Taylor Wimpey - Frank Taylor and George Wimpey

Taylor Woodrow - Frank Taylor and Jack Woodrow

Teacher's Highland Cream – William Teacher

Team Goh – Kazimuchi Goh

Team LCR – Lucio Cecchinello

Ten Kate Racing – Gerrit ten Kate, named after his nephew Ronald's motorcycle dealership Ten Kate Motorcycles

Terrytoons - Paul Terry

Tesco – T. E. Stockwell and Jack Cohen

Tesla Motors – named in honor of Nikola Tesla

Testor Corporation – Nils Testor

Tetley's Brewery (Joshua Tetley & Sons) - Joshua Tetley

Theakston Brewery – Robert Theakston

Thomas B. Jeffery Company – Thomas B. Jeffery

Thomas Cook Group, Thomas Cook Airlines, Thomas Cook & Son – Thomas Cook

The Thomson Corporation – Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet

Various named after Elihu Thomson:

Alstom

Thomson-CSF (now Thales Group)

Thomson-Houston Electric Company (now General Electric)

Thomson SA (now Technicolor SA)

Thorn Electrical Industries - Jules Thorn

Thorntons (British chocolatier) - Joseph William Thornton

Thorntons (U.S. convenience store chain) - James H. Thornton

Thrupp & Maberly (former coachbuilders) - George Thrupp and George Maberly

THX – Tomlinson Holman

ThyssenKrupp - Thyssen family and the Krupp family

Tiffany & Co. – Charles Lewis Tiffany

Tiffen – Sol Tiffen

Tim Hortons – Tim Horton

Timken Company – Henry Timken

Tokuma Shoten – Yasuyoshi Tokuma

Toleman – Ted Toleman

Tom Walkinshaw Racing – Tom Walkinshaw

Tommy Kaira – Yoshikazu Tomita and Kikuo Kaira

TOM'S – Nobuhide Tachi and Kiyoshi Oiwa (Tachi Oiwa Motor Sport)

Tom's of Maine – Tom and Kate Chappell

Toni & Guy – Giuseppe "Toni" and Gaetano "Guy" Mascolo

Tony Roma's – Tony Roma

Towers Perrin – John Towers and Charles Perrin

Toyota Industries – Sakichi Toyoda

Toyota Motor – Kiichiro Toyoda

Trane - James and Reuben Trane

Triple F Racing – Paul, Todd, and Dean Fiore

Trump Organization – Fred Trump

Trump Shuttle, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort – Donald Trump

Tupolev – Andrei Tupolev

Tupperware Brands – Earl Tupper

Turner Broadcasting System – Ted Turner

TVR – TreVoR Wilkinson

TVS Motors, TVS Electronics – T. V. Sundaram Iyengar, India

Twinings – Thomas Twining

Tyrrell Racing – Ken Tyrrell

U

Ukrop's – Joseph Ukrop

Umbro – Harold and Wallace Humphreys (HUMphrey BROthers)

V

Valentino – Valentino Garavani

Vanwall – Tony VANdervell (and ThinWALL bearings)

VDL Bova – J.D. Bova

Veilside – Hiranao Yokomaku; "yoko" translates as "side" and "maku" as "veil"

Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing – Velco "Vel" Miletich and Parnelli Jones

Versace – Gianni Versace

Verville Aircraft Company – Alfred V. Verville

Vibram – VItale BRAMani

Vroom & Dreesmann – Willem Vroom and Anton Dreesmann

W

W.B. Mason – William Betts Mason

W H Smith – William Henry Smith

W. R. Grace and Company – William Russell Grace

W. W. Norton – William Warder Norton

Waitrose – Wallace WAITe and Arthur ROSE

Wal-Mart – Sam Walton

Walgreens – Charles Rudolph Walgreen

Walkinshaw Racing – Tom Walkinshaw

Wall's (ice cream) and Wall's (meat) – Richard Wall

The Walt Disney Company – Walt Disney

Walter Wolf Racing – Walter Wolf

Wang Laboratories – An Wang

Warburtons – Ellen and Thomas Warburton

Warner Bros. – Jack L. Warner, Sam Warner, Harold Warner, and Albert Warner

Wegmans – John and Walter Wegman

Wells Fargo – Henry Wells and William Fargo

Wendy's – Dave Thomas' daughter Melinda "Wendy" Thomas

Weslake – Harry Weslake

Westinghouse Electric – George Westinghouse

Whitbread – Samuel Whitbread

Whyte and Mackay – James Whyte and Charles Mackay

Wiesmann – Martin and Friedhelm Wiesmann

Wilkinson – James Kemsey Wilkinson

Willi Betz – Willi Betz

William Hill plc - William Hill

Williams Grand Prix Engineering – Frank Williams

Williams Manufacturing Company, (to) Williams Electronics – see WMS Industries

Winchester, Winchester Repeating Arms - Oliver Winchester

Winning Appliances - John Winning and the Winning family

WMS Industries, WMS Gaming – Harry E. WilliaMS

Wood Brothers Racing – Glen, Leonard, Delano, Clay, and Ray Lee Wood

Woolworths – F. W. Woolworth

Worthington Brewery – William Worthington

Wright Company, Wright Aeronautical (to Wright-Martin) – Orville and Wilbur Wright

Wrigley Company – William Wrigley Jr.

Würth - Adolf Würth

Y

Yakovlev – Alexander Sergeyevich Yakovlev

Yamaha Corporation – Torakusu Yamaha

Yates Racing – Robert Yates

Yokomo – Tomoaki Yokobori (spun off from a model shop named YOKObori MOdel Shop)

Young's (now Wells & Young's Brewery) – Charles Young

Yuke's – Yukinori Taniguchi

Yves Saint Laurent – Yves Saint Laurent

Z

Zagato – Ugo Zagato

Zakspeed – Erich ZAKowski

Zend Technologies – ZEev Suraski & ANDi Gutmans

Zust – Roberto Züst