What earlier dish gave the modern hamburger its name?

The modern hamburger takes its name from Hamburg steak.

Hamburg steak was a dish of minced or finely chopped beef associated with Hamburg, Germany. German immigrants brought versions of the preparation to the United States during the 19th century, where cooks eventually served the seasoned beef between bread or in a bun.

The name does not mean that the hamburger was invented in the German city of Hamburg. It describes the dish’s Hamburg-style association, much as other foods use geographic names without originating in the place named. Early American menus used terms such as “Hamburg steak” and “Hamburger steak” before “hamburger” became the shorter everyday word.

Salisbury steak is a separate American dish named after physician James Salisbury. Chopped steak is also a broad descriptive term, while Hamburg steak is the historical name most directly connected to hamburger etymology.