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everyone keeps asking me why x86 uses an 8-bit byte, but I'm struggling to find an explanation that makes sense to me. Can any of you help?

what I've found so far
- it looks like x86 evolved from the intel 8008 (from 1972), which was an 8-bit CPU
- the 8008 came after the 4004, which was 4-bit

some questions I have:
- was the reason to build an 8-bit CPU to increase the size of the instruction set? or something else?
- did x86 really directly evolve from the intel 8008?

would love any links!