If you live in or travel to the United States, tipping is not just common—it’s often expected when dining at a restaurant. Leaving a gratuity for service staff is considered standard etiquette, and in many cases, it makes up a significant portion of workers’ wages.
This practice isn’t unique to the U.S.; tipping is customary in service industries across many parts of the world, though the amount and expectations vary by country.
But where did the practice of tipping originate?
According to a study published in the magazine Historie, tipping traces its origins to medieval feudal England.
During medieval times, wealthy English landowners rewarded serfs with extra coins for exceptional work.
By the 16th century, English aristocrats began tipping servants when visiting friends, acknowledging the extra effort their presence required. The habit soon spread to London’s coffeehouses and pubs, where patrons left small amounts of money in exchange for better service.
Tipping Rejected in America—At First
In the 19th century, wealthy Americans traveling in Europe brought the tipping custom back to the United States.
But early on, most Americans saw tipping as elitist and undemocratic.
"Tipping—and the aristocratic ideal from which it springs—is the reason we fled Europe. It is a cancer in the breast of democracy," wrote author William Rufus Scott.
Despite the initial resistance, tipping gained traction in early 20th-century America, just as it was fading in Europe due to labor movements advocating for fair wages.
How Slavery Shaped Tipping in the U.S.
Tipping in the U.S. took a different path than in Europe, largely due to the post-Civil War economy.
After slavery was abolished, many freed Black workers found jobs in restaurants and service industries—often at extremely low wages. Employers expected customers to supplement workers' pay with tips, making tipping an essential part of the service industry’s wage structure.
By 1966, Congress formalized tipping in the U.S. economy by allowing restaurants to pay workers below minimum wage, counting tips as part of their earnings.
This system is still in place today, making tipping a key part of workers’ livelihoods in many industries.
