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Do you know what these 8 famous UK brand names stand for?

As shoppers discovered this week the meaning of one UK supermarket's name, see if you can identify the origins of these well-known brands.

Do you know what these famous UK shop names stand for?
Do you know what these famous UK shop names stand for?

This week, shoppers were left stunned when they found out what Asda really stands for.

Broadcaster Alastair Stewart posed the question to his followers on Twitter in 2021 but the question resurfaced again – and the answer came a shock to a new group of people.

He wrote: “Without Google, do you know what the name Asda derives from?”

His tweet prompted a discussion among his 81,000 followers – with many wondering why they had never questioned the name before.

How knowledgable are you on the origins of some of Britain's best-loved brands and high street names? Read their histories and take part in the quizzes below to find out.

What does Asda stand for?

Asda’s origins date back nearly 100 years but the name did not come into existence until 1965.

It was the result of a merger between two companies and the origins of its name are laid out on the company website.

What does B&Q stand for?

DIY and home improvement retailer B&Q was founded in 1969 by two men.

The company was formed following the purchase and fitting out of a former furniture warehouse in Southampton.

What does H&M stand for?

Founded in 1947, H&M’s first shop was opened in Vasteras, Sweden and exclusively sold women’s clothing.

A menswear collection was later added after founder Erling Persson acquired a hunting apparel retailer in Stockholm.

What does ASOS stand for?

British online fashion and cosmetic retailers ASOS was founded in 2000 and was primarily aimed at young adults.

It sells over 850 brands and delivers to every country in the world.

What does B&M stand for?

B&M has stores in the UK and France and sells a variety of goods including food and homewares.

The business was founded in 1978 and was acquired in December 2004 before seeing major growth.

What is WH Smith's full name?

With stores in high streets, airports, hospitals and motorway service stations, WH Smith is a common sight in all parts of the UK.

Formed in 1792, the stores now sell books, stationery, magazines, newspapers, sweets and DVDs.

What does Tesco stand for?

Tesco is the market leader of groceries in the UK, with a market share of around 28.4%.

Founded in 1919 by the son of Jewish migrants from Poland, it now has shops in the UK, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia.

What does HSBC stand for?

HSBC is the largest bank in Europe by total assets and was established in London in 1991.

It has offices in 64 countries and territories across several continents and serves around 40 million customers.

And finally.... what does Yahoo stand for?

Jerry Yang and David Filo established Yahoo in January 1994 and it was one of the pioneers of the early internet era in the 1990s.

It is a web services provider that also provides news to millions of readers every year.

* Can’t get enough trivia action? Check out our dedicated Yahoo Quizzes page for more brainteasers! *