# Why is ground beef called Hamburger.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ground-beef-called-hamburger/186496
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [July 6, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ground-beef-called-hamburger/186496 "2003-07-06T03:04:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Soargeezer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soargeezer)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ground-beef-called-hamburger/186496/1 "2003-07-06T03:04:17Z")
Help me out here. My brother in law asked my why ground beef is called Hamburger instead of beefburger. I don’t know! Oh the humiliation and embarassment this causes. Does anyone out there know the anwser?
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### Author:  [@Publius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Publius)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2003, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ground-beef-called-hamburger/186496/2 "2003-07-06T03:24:12Z")
“Hamburger” actually has nothing to do with ham. If I’m remembering correctly, t refers to a kind of ground beef steak that was popular in Hamburg, Germany, in the 19th century. That steak was subsequently brought to the United States by German immigrants.
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### Author:  [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2003, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ground-beef-called-hamburger/186496/3 "2003-07-06T03:29:51Z")
In the market it’s labeled ground beef, not hamburger.
Ground beef is ground beef. When you form it into a patty and cook it to serve on a bun, it’s a hamburger. Or sometimes hamburger steak.
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### Author:  [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2003, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ground-beef-called-hamburger/186496/4 "2003-07-06T03:46:42Z")
[The Word Detective on Hamburger](http://www.word-detective.com/111097.html#hamburger)
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### Author:  [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2003, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ground-beef-called-hamburger/186496/5 "2003-07-06T03:50:25Z")
Similarly, frankfurter refers to a sausage popularized in Frankfurt and weener/weiner/wiener (which _should_ be spelled _wiener_) refers to sausage from Vienna–_Wien_ in German.
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2003, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ground-beef-called-hamburger/186496/6 "2003-07-06T03:55:56Z")
Yes, it is named after the German city of Hamburg, and it was only later that other “—burger” words were coined, kinda like “Watergate” led to “—gate” to name political scandals, or “alcoholic” led to other “–holic” words (like “workaholic” or “chocaholic”).
**GaryM** , the word “hamburger” can refer to the sandwich or just the meat (as in “Hamburger Helper”). I don’t know the straight dope on which usage came first though. But it’s similar to “hot dog,” which could refer to the whole thing (bun and all) or to what you put in the bun. (Also known as a frankfurter or a wiener, oddly enough, even though Frankfurt and Wien (= Vienna) are totally different cities.)
I’d also be interested in learning the straight dope on who first coined another “—burger” word (I’m guessing it was “cheeseburger.”)
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### Author:  [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2003, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ground-beef-called-hamburger/186496/7 "2003-07-06T04:28:56Z")
[http://members.cox.net/jjschnebel/hburgers.html](http://members.cox.net/jjschnebel/hburgers.html)
Here in Athens, Tx. we have a hamburger cookoff every year and a block party downtown for the hamburger festival. Athens is credited by many as being the birthplace of the hamburger. They were sold here in the 1880’s.
[http://www.geography.ccsu.edu/harmonj/atlas/burgers.html](http://www.geography.ccsu.edu/harmonj/atlas/burgers.html)
Texas also has a large German population that may contribute to the tale. :dubious:
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### Author:  [@Soargeezer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soargeezer)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2003, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ground-beef-called-hamburger/186496/8 "2003-07-06T05:30:34Z")
Thank you all for your answers. My honor redeemed, I can now face my brother inlaw again.
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### Author:  [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2003, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ground-beef-called-hamburger/186496/9 "2003-07-06T14:23:52Z")
> [@](#):
>
> I’d also be interested in learning the straight dope on who first coined another “—burger” word (I’m guessing it was\*\* “cheeseburger.”\*\*)
Currently the term is traced to 1928 California. Thanks to Barry Popik for his continuing research into food terms(and just about any thing else you can name).
As the LA Times is digitized over the next year or so, you’ll probably see that date extended back a bit. Almost certainly a California term/custom.
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### Author:  [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ground-beef-called-hamburger/186496/10 "2003-07-06T18:38:09Z")
I’ve heard from less then religable sources that the words hamburger and frankfurter were ‘changed’ to salsbury steak and hot dog during WW1 or 2 as to disassociate them with Germany. Sort of like freedom fries (glad that one didn’t stick).
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### Author:  [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ground-beef-called-hamburger/186496/11 "2003-07-06T18:42:15Z")
Hamburg, New York (outside Buffalo) also claims to be the cradle of the tasty meat sandwich treat.
[This food history site](http://www.foodhistory.com/foodnotes/leftovers/hamburger/biz/) gives more details about Hamburg, NY’s claim as well as Athens, TX’s and also Seymour, Wisconsin. They all seem to agree on the late 19th century origin.