Clarity though definition

Where does word brand come from?

It first appeared in the epic Beowulf around 1000 as bronde. Like many words the last e was dropped during the middle ages. It was the late 1500s before the a replaced the o.

Since the first recorded use of the word, brand has meant some result from fire, burning or marking. Branding was, and still is, a way to make other people know that something was yours and not theirs. Though not the most pleasant picture, think of a rancher using fire and iron to put his mark (his brand) on his livestock. That way even if they wandered away, the rancher could prove they were his property. In the most basic sense, fire in the country brough about this whole branding business.

The 20th century brought about the change from branding belongings to branding products and companies. The definition has changed from “this is mine and you can’t have it;” it has transformed to fit the society’s current needs. Now branding is about presenting your company and wanting others to be a part.