Who are the people of the four schools of thought (madhahib), are they one person or a group of people, what is the reason for the interest in them despite their not being mentioned in the Qur'an and Sunnah, and why are there no new schools of thought named after contemporary scholars?

The four Imams (Abu Hanifa, Malik, Shafi'i, and Ahmad ibn Hanbal) are the founders of the followed schools of thought (madhahib), known for their knowledge and virtue. Their students gathered around them, documenting their sayings, and their schools of thought spread. These schools of thought are not found in the texts of the Qur'an and Sunnah because they emerged after the prophetic era, but they are based on the texts of the Qur'an and Sunnah. Their imams are among the best of the people of knowledge whom we are commanded to consult. There are other schools of thought that either still exist or have disappeared, but the four schools of thought became established, were documented, and received attention from Muslims. Some scholars affiliated with one of these schools may have personal preferences that do not exclude them from their affiliation with that school of thought.