How did the chargers get their name?

Answer 1

There are at least three theories, but which is correct is debatable.

The most common theory, but probably the least likely to be correct, appears to be that the Chargers were named after the newly introduced Carte Blanche charge card, possibly after a team naming contest or promotion.

Another theory is that original team owner Barron Hilton liked the sound of the University of Southern California Trojans' "Charge!" cheer and named the team accordingly.

The most plausible theory seems to be that the Chargers are named after the steeds that carried medieval knights into combat, i.e. a knight's horse was known as a "charger." This appears to be corroborated by the fact that the Chargers' original emblem included a profile of a horse's head. The word "charger" used in this context is now considered archaic.

charg·er2 (chär'jər)
n. A large shallow dish; a platter.[Middle English chargeour, from Old French chargeor, from chargier, to load.

Frank Ready picked the Chargers name when he purchased an AFL franchise for Los Angeles. The Chargers played in Los Angeles in 1960 and moved to San Diego in 1961. "I liked it because they were yelling 'charge' and sounding the bugle at Dodgers Stadium and at USC games."

Answer 2

The Chargers were named after Horses. They eventually dropped that and called themselves the bolts.