Daimlers

Daimlers is a German surname associated with early automotive pioneers and with the corporate lineage that led to Mercedes-Benz. The most prominent bearer is Gottlieb Daimler (1834–1900), an engineer who, with Wilhelm Maybach, founded Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) in 1890. DMG produced some of the first high‑speed internal combustion engines and cars, helping to establish modern motor vehicle development. The Mercedes brand arose from a collaboration with Emil Jellinek, who named his preferred cars Mercedes after his daughter; DMG built the early Mercedes automobiles that contributed to the brand’s prestige.

In 1926, DMG merged with Karl Benz’s Benz & Cie to form Daimler-Benz AG, uniting the Daimler and Benz names under a single corporate entity and adopting Mercedes-Benz as its flagship brand. The company continued to develop luxury and commercial vehicles and expanded its global presence through the 20th century.

In 1998 the group merged with Chrysler to form DaimlerChrysler AG, a period of diversification that lasted until 2007, when the company restructured as Daimler AG. In 2022 the parent company announced a return to the Mercedes-Benz branding in its name, and the legal entity became Mercedes-Benz Group AG, while the brand identity remains Mercedes-Benz. The term Daimlers now commonly appears in historical contexts, referring to the individuals and firms that carry the Daimler legacy rather than the current corporate brand.