Home HistoryBoston History Where Fig Newtons get their name

Where Fig Newtons get their name

by The 100 Companies

Contrary to popular belief, the Fig Newton isn’t named after famed physicist Isaac Newton, but was actually named after a small city outside of Boston.

The Kennedy Biscuit Company first made the famous fig cookie in 1891, and often named cookies after local communities in the Boston area. For this new creation, they decided to name it after the local town of Newton.

The Kennedy Biscuit Company ultimately merged with other bakeries in what would eventually become the National Biscuit Company, Nabisco.

Fig Newtons, now just called Newtons, are Nabisco’s third-most popular product, with over 700 billion bars sold annually.

– Carlisle Willard, The 100 Companies 

You may also like

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More

The Boston 100