 The word "sandwich" was not recorded until the 18th century.Many cultures claim invention of the sandwich, but it was given its name around the year 1765 in honor of the English aristocrat John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, who preferred to eat sandwiches so he could play cards without soiling his fingers.However, Elizabeth Leslie Cook did not include a sandwich recipe in her cookbook until 1840, when it appeared in the local cuisine of the United States.