7UP, aka Seven-up was created by C.L. Grigg. In 1920, he formed the Howdy Company in St. Louis, Missouri, where he made the Howdy Orange drink.

11 different formulas were tested over the years, different lemon-flavored soft drinks. I 1929, he introduced Seven-Up, the caramel-colored beverage.

So where did the 7 and the Up come from? Actually, 7-Up has seven natural flavors. Before The Great Caffeine scare of the 90's, 7-Up was marketed as a tonic, with ads that had a winged 7. "Seven-Up energizes-sets you up-dispels brain cobwebs and muscular fatigue."

--facts and quote taken from Do Penguins Have Knees? by David Feldman.