hamburgers are named for a city in germany called hamburg. they were probably invented in germany, though what we now know as a hamburger was created in the united states in the 19th century. hamburgers appeared on menus in england and the united states in the 19th century, and became a popular food after the 1904 world's fair. what is called a hamburger throughout the world today was different than the first german hamburgers; german dishes often involved a steak or sausage between pieces of bread instead of ground meat.