Company Names Trivia Quiz

Answer: It doesn't have one

As SAS covers Norway, Sweden and Denmark together, technically none of these countries has its own national airline. Maersk Air is the largest private airline in Denmark, and Dan Air was from England, meaning 'Davies and Newman'.

Answer: Harriet

Every British shopper probably sees this name every week, but few would know its origin. H. Samuel was founded in Liverpool by Moses and Lewis Samuel in 1821. The Harriet concerned was the widow of Moses Samuel's son, being his last surviving relative after her son's death.

Answer: Philadelphia

There are only so many names in the world, so similar ones, even for those businesses in the same field (also Kenwood, unrelated UK and Japanese electrical goods manufacturers), are bound to occur at times. They often result in long legal battles if challenged by the original company.

Answer: Insect killers

'Ento-kill' means 'to kill insects', from the Greek 'entoma' ('insects'). A company already had a similar name, so they decided to add the letter 'R'.

Answer: True

Though Hoseasons is a holiday company, its founder was Mr Hoseason from Scotland. Mr Lemon Hart created the rum in Cornwall. Forrest Mars founded Mars, the confectionery company, Dr Pepper invented the drink, Mr Stussy owns the clothes company, and Clarence Birdseye founded the frozen food company.

Answer: Kenneth Wood

This was a simple abbreviation: the owner was known as Ken Wood and used that as one word.

Answer: aa

The founder's real name was Aaronson, not Bronson, Robinson or Rossington.

Answer: Wisconsin University and a chemical

Warfarin came out as a very misleading name which was simply based on the initials of the University it was invented, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) and the last two letters of CoumarIN, its main ingredient. Any connection with warfare is only coincidental.

Answer: The two rivers of those names

As the two main offices were in London and New York, their rivers were used to illustrate the transatlantic nature of the company.

Answer: Its owner

Another Warfarin-type answer, where the sound of the name is confused with the actual product. The Aspro here is taken from Mr Nicholas, who ran the last two letters of his name into the first two of product (nicholAS PROduct) to form 'Aspro'. The odd reason for choosing a different name from aspirin is that in 1917, when the Australian Mr Nicholas changed the name to Aspro, Aspirin was a German product, which he believed might put off customers during the ongoing war with Germany. So instead of selling a German product, he sold a Nicholas product. No doubt the actual letters he chose were conveniently associated with aspirin as well.