Jeep used to be called GP for the militarys General Purpose vehicle until a character on the show Popeye in the late 40s called it a Jeep poking fun and the name stuck. So that's where the name Jeep came from. Pretty interesting I thought.

 

Jeep used the Cherokee name in reference to the Native American Cherokee nation. Ruggedness and civility were what Jeep wanted to convey in the SUV's name. These are the top characteristics of the Cherokee people.

 

Check your facts, GPW (W was for Willis) was the Ford version used in WW2 and MB was the Willlis version which pattened the name Jeep in 1950. The military used the term jeep for any new and untested recruit or vehicle at that time. Eugene the Jeep was a character on Popeye but the name of the vehicle is credited to the soldiers. Also during WW2 and even a little before all military trucks were called jeeps (lowercase J on purpose).

 

ha! thats cool. really interesting i think. and i didnt know about the cherokee thing either. cool stuff guys