The word LEGO had a secret meaning that the makers didn’t know about!
In 1932, Ole Kirk Kristiansen was a master carpenter and joiner in Denmark and established his business in the village of Billund. He manufactured stepladders, ironing boards, stools, and wooden toys. His son, Godtfred began working for the business at age 12. In 1934, the company adopted the name LEGO, which was formed from the words “LEg GOdt” meaning “play well.”
It wasn’t until later that it was realized LEGO means “to put together” in Latin. The firm only had six or seven people at that time. Godtfred cut Ole Kirk’s motto “Only the best is good enough” and hung it up in the workshop in 1936. In 1937, Godtfred was 17 and he began making his own models. The business grew to a whopping ten employees in 1939, but it continued to grow with time. It has come a long way over the past almost 80 years – from a small carpenter’s workshop to a modern, global enterprise that is now one of the world’s largest manufacturers of toys.
