14 of the Oldest Corporate Logos Still in Use Today — And What Makes Them Timeless

Most logos don't survive a rebranding cycle. These have survived wars, recessions, and centuries of shifting consumer taste. That's not luck — that's genius.

The oldest logos in the world share something deeper than good design. They carry brand heritage, cultural meaning, and a visual identity so strong that changing them would feel like erasing history. From medieval logos rooted in 14th-century Belgium to iconic American company logos born in the 1800s, these classic corporate logos prove one undeniable truth: when you get it right the first time, you don't need to start over.

Think about how dramatically things have changed just in the last 15 years. The history of the Instagram logo alone shows four distinct visual shifts since the app launched in 2010. The first Instagram logo was a skeuomorphic camera that looked nothing like today's gradient icon. Instagram logos over the years reflect how fast digital brands evolve — and how rare it is for any logo to stay recognizable across decades, let alone centuries.

That contrast makes what you're about to read even more remarkable.

What Makes a Corporate Logo Stand the Test of Time?

Before diving into the list, it's worth asking — why do some logos last centuries while others look dated within a decade?

The answer lies in a few core principles:

• Simplicity — The best timeless logo designs strip away everything unnecessary
• Symbolism — Strong logo symbolism creates emotional connections that outlast trends
• Consistency — Logo consistency builds brand recognition across generations
• Authenticity — Logos rooted in real brand heritage feel trustworthy, not manufactured
• Smart branding strategy — Every enduring logo started with a deliberate identity design decision

Consider the contrast between old logos and newer ones. The Amazon logo, Google logo — sometimes misspelled as “goolge logo” in search queries — and the Pinterest logo are all modern giants built on these same foundational principles. Yet none of them carry the kind of corporate culture and business legacy baked into the logos you're about to see.

Corporate branding history shows that enduring brands treat their visual identity as a long-term asset. Not an afterthought. Not a trend.

Stella Artois (Est. 1366) — The Oldest Logo in the World Still Active

Here's a jaw-dropper. The oldest logo in the world still in use today traces back to 1366 — older than the printing press, older than Columbus reaching America, older than almost everything you learned in history class.

The Den Horn brewery in Leuven, Belgium, used a curved horn as its symbol. That same horn graphic still appears in the Stella Artois logo today, making it one of the first logos in recorded commercial history.

From Medieval Branding to a Global Beer Icon

In 1708, Sebastian Artois took ownership of the brewery. Then, in 1926, a special Christmas brew — called the “Christmas Star” — became so popular that it became the flagship product and brand in one fell swoop. “Stella,” Latin for star, became the name. The word sat beneath those ancient horns and hasn't moved since.

The logo also features ANNO 1366 at the top — a rare example of a logo with an established date that is historically significant. It's not decorative. It's a 658-year-old brand story told in two words. That's established since logo design at its absolute finest.

Shell Oil (Est. 1833) — From Seashells to a Global Brand Logo

Shell didn't start in oil. Marcus Samuel Sr. founded the company in 1833, selling imported seashells to England. His son expanded into oil after spotting an opportunity near the Caspian Sea. That pivot produced one of the most surprising brand origins in all of corporate branding history.

The Scallop Shell — Logo Color Psychology in Action

The giant scallop logo was created in 1904. The now-famous red-and-yellow logo design — a masterclass in logo color psychology and brand colors that trigger instant recognition — was introduced in 1948. The company name was removed entirely in 1956, and it hasn't returned since.

That was a bold call. Removing text from a logo means betting entirely on visual recognition as a marketing symbol. Shell won that bet decisively. Today, the scallop is one of the most recognizable company logos on earth — spotted in 70+ countries with zero words needed.

Shell's visual marketing approach — letting the icon carry the entire brand — remains one of the greatest examples of branding success in commercial history.

Levi's (Est. 1853) — Retailers' Logo History Built on Strength

Levi Strauss arrived in San Francisco in 1853. He teamed up with tailor Jacob Davis, who discovered copper rivets made denim far more durable. Their partnership produced one of the most enduring pieces of American company logos history — and one of the greatest examples of product innovation driving brand identity.

The Two Horses Logo — A Symbol of Strength Since 1892

The iconic Two Horses logo debuted in 1892, showing two horses pulling a pair of pants in opposite directions — and failing to tear them. It's visual storytelling at its absolute finest. Brand storytelling doesn't get more direct or more powerful than that single image.

Many people called Levi's “the two-horse brand” long before the red tab existed. That's genuine brand recognition built through logo symbolism, not marketing spend. It became a business logo inspiration for generations of apparel brands that followed.

The red-and-white logo most people recognize today debuted in 1969, but the leather Two Horses patch still appears on many Levi's jeans. That's logo consistency and nostalgic branding working together seamlessly — a lesson in commercial branding that still holds up today.

Sherwin-Williams (Est. 1866) — “Cover the Earth” and Bold Visual Branding

Henry Sherwin founded his paint company in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1866. Edward Williams joined in 1870. Together, they built one of the most ambitious brands in corporate branding history — and their logo reflects every bit of that ambition and corporate culture.

The “Cover the Earth” Logo — Unapologetically Global Since 1926

A paint can pouring red paint over a globe. Three words: Cover the Earth. It's been their established logo since 1926 — nearly 100 years of an unchanged visual identity that simultaneously screams global presence and company reputation.

Sherwin-Williams pioneered ready-mixed paint, transforming product innovation into a visual branding statement. The logo doesn't whisper about their global reach — it pours it over an entire planet. That's identity design with genuine conviction behind it.

Heinz (Est. 1869) — Classic Brand Marks That Outlived the Competition

Henry J. Heinz started selling jars of horseradish in Pittsburgh in 1869, using his mother's personal recipe. That family business grew into one of the most famous old food brand logos in American history — a genuine legacy brand built one condiment at a time.

The Famous “57” — Historic Branding That Was Never True

Here's something most people don't know. When Heinz added “57 Varieties” to its marketing in 1892, it was already selling over 60 products. The number 57 was chosen because it felt lucky and memorable — a marketing symbol born purely from intuition, not inventory.

The logo has seen subtle updates, with the current version locked in since 1957. An alternate red-on-white version appeared in 1989 — a rare example of a logo refresh for this otherwise unchanged brand.

Johnson & Johnson (Est. 1886) — The Handwritten Logo That Built Consumer Trust

Few corporate logos carry as much weight as the Johnson & Johnson script. It appears on Band-Aids, Tylenol, Neutrogena, and dozens of other healthcare brand logos trusted by millions of families worldwide.

A Signature Logo Born From a Real Signature

The script logo was copied directly from James W. Johnson's handwriting — taken from a check he signed in 1886. The ampersand and second “Johnson” were added the following year.

That makes it one of the most authentic handwritten logos in existence. It isn't stylized for effect — it's a real person's signature turned into a trademark. Consumer trust is built one genuine signature at a time. That's brand authenticity you simply can't manufacture.

Prudential (Est. 1875) — The Rock of Gibraltar as a Symbol of Security

Prudential founded its insurance business in England in 1875 with a clear mission: to provide affordable coverage to working-class people. They needed a logo that communicated permanence — something that said we're not going anywhere.

The Rock of Gibraltar — 161 Years of Enduring Logo Symbolism

The Rock of Gibraltar first appeared in Prudential's advertising in 1860 — before the company even fully formalized. It remains one of the most powerful insurance company logos ever created, combining symbols of strength, reliability, and security into a single unforgettable logo icon.

Text has come and gone around it across various redesigns. The rock itself hasn't moved. That's the power of a well-chosen marketing symbol that resonates deeper than any tagline ever could.

Underwood Deviled Ham (Est. 1822) — One of America's Oldest Active Logos

The William Underwood Company started in Boston in 1822 — making it one of the oldest brands in American commercial history. They supplied canned food to Union soldiers during the Civil War, one of the earliest examples of large-scale product branding under extreme pressure.

The Devil Logo — From 1895 to Today

The famous devil character debuted in 1895, looking far more menacing than the friendlier 1921 redesign still used today. That version just celebrated its 100th anniversary — making it one of the longest-running logo icons in packaging logo design history.

It's quirky, memorable, and completely ownable. That's vintage logo design doing exactly what it should — creating a character mark so distinctive that no competitor can touch it.

General Electric (Est. 1892) — Corporate Branding History at Its Finest

GE started as Edison General Electric — yes, that Thomas Edison. After merging with the Thomas-Houston Electric Company, the company was renamed General Electric. Interestingly, this is one of history's clearest examples of how an original acronym persists internally through a rebrand — “GE” survived every corporate transformation and remains the world's most recognized set of initials in consumer electronics.

The GE Medallion — 130 Years of Visual Identity

The GE script logo appeared in 1892. The circle was added in 1900, creating a medallion logo that's barely changed since. Leaf swirls evolved into smoother curves — and that's genuinely it.

Over 130 years of logo consistency. No dramatic redesigns. No chasing trends. Just a corporate emblem that grew stronger with every passing decade — a true example of branding success through restraint.

Twinings Tea (Est. 1706) — The Oldest Logo With Fully Unceasing Use

Twinings holds a distinction no other brand can claim: the oldest logo in the world with completely uninterrupted use. Created in 1787, it predates the US Constitution by two years. For context, this logo already existed when George Washington took his first oath of office.

A Family Crest Logo Rich With Visual Heritage

The crest logo design features a golden lion, two stars, leaves, and a hand holding two serpents. Below it sits a Latin motto — Fortiter ac Firmiter — meaning “Strongly and Firmly.”

That's logo symbolism layered with brand storytelling, cultural heritage, and a family legacy stretching back over 300 years. Among all logos with the earliest date markings, Twinings stands alone. The original shop on the Strand in London still operates today — and that logo still hangs above the door. A true established-since logo that's never needed reinvention.

Red Cross (Est. 1864) — A Humanitarian Symbol Known Across 192 Countries

The Red Cross isn't a corporate logo — it's a humanitarian organization symbol protected by international law. Established through the Geneva Conventions in 1864, it represents one of the most powerful examples of visual communication in human history.

The Red Crescent addressed cultural concerns during the Russo-Turkish War. The Red Crystal served as a clearly non-denominational symbol, designed for global brand reach without religious association. Three variations. One universal mission. That's visual marketing distilled to its purest form.

Campbell's Soup (Est. 1898) — Old Food Brand Logos That Became Pop Culture

Campbell's red-and-white logo wasn't a carefully calculated design decision. It drew inspiration from Cornell University's football uniforms — a team founder Joseph Campbell genuinely admired. Sometimes the best brand colors come from unexpected places.

The medallion in the logo represents a real award: a gold medal from the 1900 Paris World Exposition. That's heritage marketing with actual receipts to back it up.

Andy Warhol immortalized the Campbell's can in 1962, turning a consumer product logo into fine art. That crossover into pop culture represents a level of brand recognition most companies never dream of achieving — making Campbell's one of the greatest examples of commercial branding transcending its original industry.

Coca-Cola (Est. 1886) — The Most Iconic Script Logo in History

John Pemberton developed Coca-Cola in Atlanta in 1886. The Spencerian script logo followed in 1887 — and despite a brief, ill-fated font experiment from 1890 to 1891, the original logo of that era never truly changed.

Spencerian Font — Logo Typography That Defined an Era

Spencerian script was the dominant handwriting style of 19th-century America. Coca-Cola adopted it and made it its own forever. The “trademark” text above the first C was removed in 1941. The waves appeared later. That's essentially the entire history of changes to one of the world's most valuable logos — two minor tweaks across 138 years.

Compare that to how dramatically digital brands evolve. The universal logo history of companies like GE and Coca-Cola shows that restraint is often the boldest branding strategy available. The Coca-Cola logo remains the undisputed gold standard of classic brand marks — a Spencerian script logo that turned elegant penmanship into a trillion-dollar visual identity.

John Deere (Est. 1848) — Automotive and Machinery Logos Built to Last

John Deere started in Moline, Illinois, in 1848, building plows before launching their first tractor in 1912. Among all automotive and machinery logos in American history, the leaping deer stands apart — present since 1876 and still immediately recognizable worldwide.

The Leaping Deer — Logo Evolution Done Right

Early versions showed the deer jumping over a log with “Moline, Ill” underneath. Text was gradually stripped away until 1956, when only “John Deere” remained beneath the deer. The 2000 redesign — the last notable update — repositioned the deer at the beginning of its leap rather than the end — a subtle but powerful shift in energy and forward momentum.

That's a logo redesign with intention. Not chasing trends and refining a legacy. Among agricultural brand logos worldwide, John Deere's leaping deer is the clearest example of logo evolution that serves brand legacy rather than replaces it.

What the Oldest Logos in the World Have in Common

Look across these 14 logos and clear patterns emerge:

Every single one of these legendary logos prioritized meaning over aesthetics. They didn't follow design trends — they set standards that trends tried to follow. That's the foundation of genuine branding success.

Here's what each logo quietly communicates to consumers:

• Stella Artois — We've been here since before modern civilization. Trust us.
• Shell — One shape. Every country. No translation needed.
• Coca-Cola — This script is so familiar it feels like home.
• Twinings — Our family has been perfecting this since 1706.
• Johnson & Johnson — A real person signed this. We stand behind it.

That's visual communication doing its highest-level work — building consumer trust without saying a single word beyond the brand name.

Want to Build a Brand That Lasts? Start With What You Put Your Logo On

Here's something the history books don't always highlight. The brands above didn't just design great logos — they put them everywhere. On products, packaging, uniforms, vehicles, and promotional items that kept their visual identity alive and working in the real world, every single day.

The brands on this list built their company reputation one touchpoint at a time. Promotional product branding is one of the most powerful touchpoints available to any business today.

Brand Legacy Starts With a Logo Worth Keeping

The oldest corporate logos still in use didn't survive by accident. They survived because they were built with purpose — rooted in brand authenticity, reinforced through logo consistency, and trusted by consumers across generations who passed that trust down like an heirloom.

From the 1366 horn of Stella Artois to the 1876 leaping deer of John Deere, these enduring logos prove that great visual identity genuinely transcends time. The oldest brand in the world didn't earn that title through reinvention — it earned it through conviction.

Design something meaningful. Stay consistent. Let your brand heritage do the heavy lifting across decades you'll never live to see. Your logo tells your story before you say a single word. Make sure it's a story worth hearing — and worth remembering for the next 300 years.