What was McDonald’s corporate name changed to in 1965?

McDonald’s changed its corporate name to McDonald’s Corporation in 1965.

The business had previously operated under the name McDonald’s System, Inc. The change accompanied the company’s development into a major franchising and publicly traded enterprise rather than a single restaurant operation.

Corporate naming is part of branding history because it identifies the legal organization behind the restaurants, signs, packaging, and advertising. The familiar public-facing name remained McDonald’s, while the formal corporate title became McDonald’s Corporation.

This fact is distinct from the company’s logo changes and slogan history. It also should not be confused with the founding of the original McDonald’s restaurant or Ray Kroc’s purchase of the business. Those milestones occurred at different times.