When in history did men really wear a ten gallon hat and why?

Answer by  dhuoda (1431)

The word gallon derives from a Spanish word for cord used in sombreros. The term was probably picked up by Stetson cowboy hat wearers in the 1920s who misunderstood it for the American unit for measuring liquids. The term came to be used for all Stetson type hats, and the incorrect association with water has stuck.

Answer by  tamkees (3203)

These hats were worn during the settlement of the Western U.S. Some ranchers still wear them. While some do attach status to the hats, they're mostly worn for sun protection.