Where Does the Sandwich Actually Get Its Name?

September 7, 2025, 12:58 pm | Read time: 3 minutes

The sandwich is a true classic among snacks. But where does the name of this filled bread come from, and who invented it? To explain that, we need to travel back to the 18th century in southern England.

King Appointed the Earl of Sandwich

Like so many other innovations, the sandwich bears the name of its inventor. But first, let’s go back to the year 1660. Many years before the filled bread was even invented, something happened that later led to the sandwich getting its name.

The English admiral and politician Edward Montagu brought King Charles II back to England from Dutch exile. The king was very grateful to him and bestowed upon him the title “Earl of Sandwich.” The British noble title was named after the town of Sandwich in southern England. Originally, it is said, Edward Montagu was to be ennobled as the Earl of Portsmouth, but the king changed his mind at the last minute.

This laid the foundation for the name of the sandwich, but it was not invented until many years later by the 4th Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu.

According to reviews on "Taste Atlas" This Is Currently the World’s Most Popular Sandwich

Flieden in Hesse This German Community Is Allowed to Call Itself a “kingdom”

A Quick Snack in Between

But how was the famous snack invented? This happened around the middle of the 18th century, as reported by WDR. The 4th Earl of Sandwich is said to have been a fanatical card player. It is said that he was so obsessed that he did not want to interrupt his game for a meal. Therefore, he supposedly ordered that his food be placed between two slices of bread. This way, he could continue his game while holding and eating the snack.

According to reports, the filled bread finally got its name because his fellow players wanted the snack too. They then ordered a bread “like Sandwich.” How much truth there is in the story is disputed. There is also a version that says the 4th Earl of Sandwich requested a filled bread not because of card games, but due to his heavy workload.

Sandwich in Southeastern England

But no matter how the snack was invented–the town of Sandwich in southeastern England is definitely worth a visit. According to the local tourism office, it is the best-preserved medieval town in England. It is located right on the banks of the River Stour, with many winding alleys and well-preserved centuries-old buildings.

Here you will find content from third-party providers

To interact with or display third-party content, we need your consent.

In order to display embedded content, your consent to the processing of personal data, which can be revoked at any time (via the switch or via “Revoke tracking and cookies” at the bottom of the page), is required. Data may be transferred to third countries such as the USA (Art. 49 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). By switching to “on” you agree. You can find more information here.

Additionally, the town boasts numerous churches, the most famous being St. Peter’s Church. Those who climb the tower are rewarded with a great view over the rooftops of the town. For a snack, one should visit one of the many pubs–where, of course, the world-famous sandwich is also served.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TRAVELBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@travelbook.de.