Chevron was founded after an 1879 oil discovery in Pico Canyon, near the Santa Susana Mountains north of Los Angeles, California as the Pacific Coast Oil Co.
This entity was later acquired by Standard Oil. After the breakup of Standard Oil, the company was called Standard Oil of California or Socal.
Since 2001 it has been part of the ChevronTexaco company.
In heraldry when shown as a smaller size than standard, it is a diminutive called a "chevronel."
They are also used as road markings in some stretches of British motorways, to help drivers gauge the distance in to the car in front.
The word comes from the French word for "roof".External links
Single Chevron-Rank: Private E2
Double Chevron-Rank: Corpsman E4