<p>The minifigure is so-called because the original LEGO "Family" figures that were released in 1974 where somewhat larger, with bodies made from 2x2 Bricks, and arms made from hinged tubes.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Zvg6p.png" alt="Original LEGO figure"></p>

<p>There's a bit more of a condensed history in the <a href="https://bricks.stackexchange.com/tags/minifigures/info">minifigure tag wiki</a>, and there is a bit more information about the minifigure as we know it today in the <a href="http://aboutus.lego.com/en-us/lego-group/company-profile/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Company Profile</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-25T23:23:07.380Z
It almost begs the question "Where are they now?".  I'm assuming the grandmother passed away.
LarsTech
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-25T23:31:36.497Z
@LarsTech There's a set of (most of) them up in my loft mixed in with the rest of my System LEGO bricks ;)
Zhaph - Ben Duguid
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-27T10:15:47.007Z
Dearly de-parted grandma. May she rest in pieces. ;-)
Kramii
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-02T14:22:50.117Z
There are now also even smaller figures used in the board games. Nanofigs?
Lunatik
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-02T18:51:04.943Z
@Lunatik Those are called microfigures or Microfigs for short :)
Zhaph - Ben Duguid
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-06T08:55:09.660Z
The pieces used to make the arms have later been used in Classic Space sets. It can be seen [here](http://letsbuilditagain.com/instructions/6882/).
S.L. Barth is on codidact.com
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-25T20:21:42.970Z
2012-02-25T20:26:46.287Z
2017-04-13T12:47:56.213Z
Zhaph - Ben Duguid
<p>Were larger-scale LEGO figures the standard at some point in the past? It just seems odd to me that they're called "mini" when they're basically the only kind of LEGO figures available (not counting vastly larger figures that are themselves models.)</p>

<minifigures><history>
Why are they called "minifigs"?
Ernest Friedman-Hill
# Why are they called "minifigs"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-02-25)

Were larger-scale LEGO figures the standard at some point in the past? It just seems odd to me that they're called "mini" when they're basically the only kind of LEGO figures available (not counting vastly larger figures that are themselves models.)

**Tags:** minifigures, history


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2012-02-25. Score: 19 | Accepted answer

The minifigure is so-called because the original LEGO "Family" figures that were released in 1974 where somewhat larger, with bodies made from 2x2 Bricks, and arms made from hinged tubes.

![Original LEGO figure](https://i.sstatic.net/Zvg6p.png)

There's a bit more of a condensed history in the [minifigure tag wiki](https://bricks.stackexchange.com/tags/minifigures/info), and there is a bit more information about the minifigure as we know it today in the [Company Profile](http://aboutus.lego.com/en-us/lego-group/company-profile/)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: It almost begs the question "Where are they now?".  I'm assuming the grandmother passed away.  
> **username_1**: @username_2 There's a set of (most of) them up in my loft mixed in with the rest of my System LEGO bricks ;)  
> **username_3**: Dearly de-parted grandma. May she rest in pieces. ;-)  
> **username_4**: There are now also even smaller figures used in the board games. Nanofigs?  
> **username_1**: @username_4 Those are called microfigures or Microfigs for short :)  
> **username_5**: The pieces used to make the arms have later been used in Classic Space sets. It can be seen [here](http://letsbuilditagain.com/instructions/6882/).  

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