With their distinctively shaped roll and endless choices for fillings, sub sandwiches have been a lunchtime staple since the early 20th century. However, for a meal that's so common, there's a lot of controversy about where it originated. Here's a brief review of the complicated history of the legendary American sandwich.

Where Do Sub Sandwiches Come From?

The submarine sandwich goes by many names throughout the United States, but people in Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and Maryland mainly know it as a hoagie.

Although the sub's history is often disputed, culinary historians generally agree that the first rendition came from the Philadelphia area in the late 19th century. Some credit Italian shipyard workers at Hog Island, known as "hoggies," who brought large sandwiches to fuel their grueling shifts. The lunch soon took on the familiar name "hoagie."

Others attribute the name to an Irish shipworker named Hogan who enviously craved his friend’s sandwich. Still, other stories persist, including tales of a Philly grocer who created the sandwich to feed late-night gamblers, a Depression-era entrepreneur who built a restaurant around the lunch, and a jazz musician who noted that diners had to be hogs to eat a full one.

What Are the Other Names, Places & Stories?

Meanwhile, in the late 1930s, New Yorkers were also taking credit for naming the sandwich—known in the city as a "hero." One account attributes a food critic who insisted that diners had to be heroes to finish off an entire serving.

Around the same time, a similar sandwich emerged from New Orleans. Legend has it that a pair of brothers overstuffed loaves of French bread to feed striking streetcar workers, who they reportedly called "po' boys."

In Maine, the sandwich is known as an "Italian." Alternatively, Bostonians love their spuckies, and residents of Norristown, Pennsylvania, call the sandwich a zeppelin.

Generally, you can order a "submarine sandwich" anywhere in the United States and know what to expect. Some historians claim this name comes from World War II submarine builders who coveted the sandwich. Yet, records show the sandwich predates submarine building, so that may just be another myth.

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