Who invented the lollipop?

The lollipop was trademarked in 1931 by American candy maker George Smith, who claimed to have invented the lollipop in 1908. However, similar candy-on-a-stick concepts have been referenced in history as far back as the ancient Chinese, Arab and Egyptian cultures.

In the 17th century, the English snacked on a popular treat of boiled sugar on a stick, which they called a lolly pop. The name comes from the English words "lolly," meaning tongue, and "pop," meaning slap, in reference to how the tongue slaps the candy. However, the English treat was a soft candy, not the hard confection known in modern times.