Union Jack
Union Jack

Why is our British Flag called the "Union Jack"?
I know the "union" part means unity between the British Isles and beyond, inc Australia, etc, but what's the "jack" about - where did that come from & what does it mean, etc?
Yes, I know that Avondrow, I'm not stupid - I'm asking about the history of it's name
Firstly, it is perfectly legimimate to refer to the flag as the "Union Jack" whether it is flown from a warship or not. A resolution of Parliament in 1908 made it clear that "...the National Flag shall be the Union Jack...." The Admiralty has never expressed an official opinion.
It is commonly believed that the Union Jack is so called because it is flown from a "jackstaff". The US Navy also has a flag called the Union Jack when so flown. However, there is evidence that the flag was called a Jack in the navy of Charles II: about one hundred and fifty years before the jackstaff was invented. At that time, the term "jack" was used to describe a small version of something; much as we say "mini" today.
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![]() British Union Jack Flag 5ft x 3ft United Kingdom UK US $7.59
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![]() Vintage Antique British Union Jack Flag 36 x 21 US $38.70
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![]() UNION JACK UK FLAG UNITED KINGDOM 8x5ft GIANT MASSIVE US $19.36
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![]() SAS DESERT ENSIGN TANK FLAG 36 X 24 WW2 BRITISH ARMY US $40.26
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![]() OLD PRINTED COTTON UNION JACK FLAG US $15.49
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![]() Victorian cloth Boer War 1899 Vintage Union Jack Flag US $26.32
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![]() UNITED KINGDOM 15 DIAMETER BUTTON PIN US $.99
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British Union Jack (UK Great Britain) Country Flag: 3x5ft poly List Price: $14.99 Sale Price: $0.01 Average Rating: ![]() |
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3 foot by 5 foot lightweight Polyester Indoor/Outdoor Flag w/sharp colors. Has 2 metal Gromments for easy mounting & a Canvas Hem for long lasting strength. |
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British Flag 3'x5' NEW Polyester 3x5 ft UK Union Jack List Price: $0.00 Sale Price: $0.01 Average Rating: ![]() |
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3' X 5' Flag; Superpolyester Fabric, heavy weight, 2 golden non rusting grommets and cotton header, |
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United Kingdom - Great Britain - Flag 4 x 6 inch List Price: $2.40 Sale Price: $1.60 |
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United Kingdom ( British ) stick flag 4 inch x 6 inch, Mounted on a 10" Plastic Stick. This British Flag is made from polyester and printed in bright colors to make an attractive flag. Each UK flag is individually sewn around the edges. |
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Union Pacific [VHS] List Price: $14.98 Sale Price: $25.25 Used From: $8.00 Average Rating: ![]() |
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"The legend of Union Pacific is the drama of a nation, young, tough, prodigal and invincible, conquering with an iron highroad the endless reaches of the West." This stemwinder of a foreword strikes the pseudo-biblical/American Empire keynote for Cecil B... |
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Western Union [VHS] List Price: $39.98 Sale Price: $45.40 Used From: $18.49 Average Rating: ![]() |
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Western Union is nominally one of those epic celebrations of great pioneer achievements, and its official heroes are an Eastern-bred, Harvard-trained engineer named Blake (Robert Young) and a visionary named Creighton (Dean Jagger), who dreams of a transcontinental telegraph system to unite a divided nation in the first year of the Civil War... |
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British Union Jack (UK Great Britain) Country Flag: 3x5ft poly $0.01 3 foot by 5 foot lightweight Polyester Indoor/Outdoor Flag w/sharp colors. Has 2 metal Gromments for easy mounting & a Canvas Hem for long lasting strength.... |
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British Flag 3'x5' NEW Polyester 3x5 ft UK Union Jack $0.01 3' X 5' Flag; Superpolyester Fabric, heavy weight, 2 golden non rusting grommets and cotton header,... |


US $7.59























![Union Pacific [VHS]](http://www.american-flags-usa.com/images/i/511MX1F10GL._SL160_.jpg)

![Western Union [VHS]](http://www.american-flags-usa.com/images/i/51GBPQYNP5L._SL160_.jpg)