The surname belonging to the brothers credited with inventing the cheesesteak is Olivieri. Pat and Harry Olivieri, Philadelphia brothers, are widely credited with developing the sandwich in the early 1930s.
According to the familiar origin story, the brothers ran a hot-dog stand near South Philadelphia’s Italian Market. They experimented with thinly sliced beef and grilled onions, producing a steak sandwich that attracted a passing cab driver. The sandwich was initially made without cheese; cheese was added later, with American cheese and provolone becoming traditional choices.
The exact invention story is debated, so “credited with” is important. Earlier steak sandwiches existed, and accounts differ about who first added cheese. Still, the Olivieri family’s Pat’s King of Steaks is central to the modern Philadelphia cheesesteak tradition. The rival Geno’s name is associated with a famous cheesesteak shop, not the inventing brothers.