Five sons inspired the name of the Five Guys hamburger chain.
Jerry and Janie Murrell founded Five Guys in Arlington, Virginia, in 1986. The name originally referred to the couple’s five sons: Jim, Matt, Chad, Ben, and Tyler. The family-run identity remained central to the company as it expanded from a small regional operation into an international restaurant chain.
Five Guys initially focused on hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, and hot dogs. The company became known for made-to-order cooking, customizable toppings, fresh-cut fries, and large portions of peanuts available in many restaurants. Its menu offers a relatively small set of core items compared with many large fast-food chains.
The name can cause confusion because the company is not named after five founders or five restaurants. It refers specifically to the five Murrell sons. Jerry Murrell is commonly described as the family patriarch, while the sons became involved in operating and expanding the business.