Does Anybody Know Really Know How Beef Wellington Got Its Name?

The history of beef Wellington keeps getting weirder

It’s worth mentioning that there is no definitive evidence linking beef Wellington to the Duke of Wellington. It’s also quite possible that the dish got its name because the earliest iterations of the pastry resembled a Wellington boot, a type of rubber rain boot that gained popularity in the 1800s. Interestingly, Wellington boots themselves are named after the same Duke of Wellington, who requested a shoemaker to alter a popular Hessian boot to better fit his preferences, thus giving the shoe its name. Regardless, we can identify the notable historical figure likely associated with the naming of beef Wellington, but the exact reason for the duke's connection to the dish remains unclear.

Curiously, the first documented use of the pastry's contemporary name appeared in a 1903 edition of the Los Angeles Times, which referred to a "fillet of beef, a la Wellington," as reported by The Telegraph. The name began to surface more frequently thereafter, and in the 1960s, Julia Child showcased beef Wellington recipes on her television program and in her cookbooks, bringing the dish to a broader American audience. There have also been various adaptations of the classic recipe: Child’s version uses brioche instead of puff pastry, some recipes incorporate prosciutto or ham, and others opt for filet mignon in place of tenderloin, yet the fundamental concept of steak encased in pastry remains largely unchanged. Regardless of the version or origin story you choose, there’s one individual to credit: the first Duke of Wellington!