Nobody knows for certain who invented stick candy. A lollipop is a form of stick candy.

Trademark Lollipop

The name lollipop was first coined by George Smith, owner of a confectionery business called the Bradley Smith Company. George Smith named the stick candy after his favorite race horse Lolly Pop. George Smith trademarked the name lollipop in 1931, the name has since fallen into public domain. However, George Smith's story of how he thought up the name might be a true horsetail, since in the northern part of England, "lolly" means "tongue" and the word lollipop may have first originated in England. George Smith still was the only person to trademark the name Lollipop.

Samuel Born and the Born Sucker Machine

Samuel Born was a Russian immigrant who invented a lollipop making machine. In 1916, San Francisco gave the ingenious candy maker the keys to the city for inventing the Born Sucker Machine. The machine mechanically inserted sticks into lollipops. Samuel Born is also credited with inventing chocolate sprinkles, or jimmies for ice cream cones.

Racine Confectioners Machinery Company

In 1908, the Racine Confectioners Machinery Co. of Racine, Wisconsin invented a machine that could make forty lollipops a minute.

Holopops - Hologram Lollipop

In 1998, Holopops, a hologram lollipop was introduced by Light Vision Confections. The hologram design is etched on the lollipop surface.