Branding: from livestock to tattoos, the history of branding is older than you think.
The word brand comes from the Old Norse word “brandr”, meaning “to burn.” As far back as 2,000 BCE, farmers and artisans were branding livestock with fire-heated marks to signify ownership. That was one of the earliest forms of what we now recognize as a “brand” — a symbol used to identify and differentiate.
But branding began even earlier. In 40,000-year-old cave paintings, we find handprints — some of the first human “signatures.” These weren’t about commerce but about presence, identity, and legacy: a way of saying, “I was here. This is my story.”
Think too of tattoos — permanent marks on our skin that carry deep personal meaning. They represent identity, belonging, and narrative. Like brands, tattoos are stories made visible.
Fast forward to Ancient Egypt and Rome, and you’ll find makers of pottery, bricks, and amphorae stamping their products with unique marks or names. These weren’t just for pride — they signaled quality, origin, and trustworthiness.
In medieval Europe, shop signs played a similar role. With most people being illiterate, symbols were essential: a boot for the cobbler, a tankard for the tavern, a crown for the goldsmith. These signs were promises — early expressions of what we now call brand identity.
Branding truly exploded during the Industrial Revolution. With mass production came the need to distinguish one manufacturer’s soap or biscuit from another’s. Companies like Coca-Cola (1886) and Colgate (1873) began using logos, packaging, and advertising to create consistent identities people could recognize and trust — even from afar.
So, why did we start creating brands? Because humans crave recognition, connection, and meaning. We want to know what we’re buying, who it’s from, and why it matters. Branding evolved as a way to create trust in marketplaces that were becoming increasingly impersonal and crowded.
Today, that ancient impulse to mark, signal, and differentiate continues — only now, our tools are digital, emotional, and strategic. But the core is the same: brands help us navigate choice, build relationships, and tell stories about who we are.
This is the universe I’ve lived and breathed for 20 years — helping businesses shape meaningful identities rooted in who they truly are. It’s also the heart of KF Human Branding: a human-centric approach to branding that bridges ancient instincts with the realities of our digital and AI-driven world.
Curious to see how I can help you connect your brand with the people who matter most? Let’s talk.