Where did the name Badminton come from?

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Why: I had a busy weekend.

Answer: It was the name of some guy's estate! A brief history of the game:

• Originally called "battledore and shuttlecock," the game was played in ancient civilizations of Europe and Asia more than 2,000 years ago. Battledore means "bat or paddle" (and is what I will be calling badminton from now on, fyi).
• In the 1600s, rich English people played battledore and shuttlecock like Keep-It-Up style, just hitting it back and forth and trying not to let it touch the ground.

• In the mid-19th centry, British military officers stationed in India added the net. They were in a town called Poona, so they called the game Poona lol.
• When retired officers returned to England, they took the game with them. The Duke of Beaufort had a stately home called Badminton House in Gloucester. Guests there played battledore and shuttlecock.
  

Where did the name of Badminton House come from? Well, I don't know, but look at all those puppies:

Source: USABadminton.org

The More You Know: Some badminton facts. Get ready:

• Badminton is the 2nd most popular sport in the world (after soccer).
• The IBF headquarters is in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• The best shuttlecocks are made from the feathers from the left wing of a goose.
• More than 1.1 billion people watched the 1992 Olympic Badminton competition on television.
• Only 3 countries have won the Thomas Cup (men's) since its inception in 1948: Malaysia, Indonesia and China.
• Only 4 countries have won the Uber Cup (women's) since its inception in 1956: Japan, Indonesia, China, and USA! USA!!