Why do so many American companies’ names start with “General” (e.g. General Electric, General Motors, General Mills)?

Question

Why do so many American companies’ names start with “General” (e.g. General Electric, General Motors, General Mills)?

In: Economics

Answer 1

Names used to be a bit more literal, so general was truly to communicate the type of business they were. A general corporation. The easiest way to understand the name is if you look to the service:

General hospital, oh good I can go there for almost any ailment

General mill, oh good I can bring all types of my grain and they can handle it

General Electric, who knows?

I don’t know if this expanded into greater meaning, for example how many companies’ names share common similarities now but lack actual meaning:

Advanced

Specialty

Premier

Royal