Why is the UK national flag called 'Union Jack'?

Answer 1

It is called "union" because the flag combines the English, Scotish and (old) Irish flags.

It is called a "jack", because that is an old naval term for a flag that shows nationality.

These days it is normally called the union flag which is technically more correct.

Answer 2

Terminology: "Union Flag" or "Union Jack"?
The issue of whether it is acceptable to use the term "Union Jack" is one that causes considerable controversy. Although it is often asserted that "Union Jack" should only be used for the flag when it is flown as a jack (a small flag flown at the bow of a ship), it is not universally accepted that the "Jack" of "Union Jack" is a reference to such a jack flag; other explanations have been put forward (see [1]). The term possibly dates from the early 1700s, but its origin is uncertain. The word Jack may have come from the name of the James VI, King of Scots who inherited the English crown, causing the flag to be designed, that is Jac from Jacobus, Latin for James. Even if the term "Union Jack" does derive from the jack flag (as perhaps seems most likely), after three centuries, it is now sanctioned by usage, has appeared in official usage, and remains the popular term. The BBC website disregards the term "union flag" because of its "great potential for confusion", preferring union jack (in lower case) (see [2]). The term "Union Flag", on the other hand, is the term preferred in official documents by vexillologists. The Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (c. 21) section 4(1)(a)(ii) refers to the national colours of the United Kingdom as "the Union flag (commonly known as the Union Jack)".

Answer 3

It's not. It's called the Union Flag.
The union jack refers to the flag only when it's flown on a ship but people use the term erroneously.
The word union refers to the United Kingdom and the flag incorporates the national flags of England, Scotland and Ireland ( Wales wasn't considered worth bothering with)
It is out of date now as most of Ireland is independent and the only part still in the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, has its own flag which is not represented in the Union Flag.

Answer 4

The Union Jack is a combination (union) of the flags of St George, St Andrew and St Patrick. The flag of St George is white with a red cross. The flag of St Andrew is blue with a white diagonal cross and the flag of St Patrick is white with a red diagonal cross.

In 1603 King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England and united England and Scotland under a new flag combining the Cross of St Andrew with the Cross of St George, which the Navy referred to as The Union Jack. In 1801 King George III updated the design when he added the Cross of St Patrick.

The flag is normally called the Union Jack because it represents a union of countries — England, Ireland, and Scotland and Wales (although the current flag does not include a flag from the latter*).

Union Jack is a misnomer for the actual flag, because a jack is a flag that is flown on a jackstaff which is a small flag pole on the back of a naval ship. Hence the flag should be called the Union Flag.

In 1606, the first flag of Great Britain was developed, which included the crosses of England and Scotland (at this point, Ireland had not been united with England or Scotland).

The red vertical cross (England) had to be put onto the white on blue cross (Scotland), and a white border was added for reasons of heraldry. This flag was used during the reign of James 1 and Charles 1 (1603‑1649), and up until 1801. In that year, Ireland became united officially with England. King George III then updated the design by adding the Cross of St Patrick.

The designers of the day had to ensure that all the crosses could be recognised as individual flags as well as existing in the same flag together. They achieved this by making the white background (Scottish Cross) broader on one side of the Irish red than on the other. This meant that all the individual crosses could be clearly recognised, and the Irish Cross had its original white background.

If a nation or a principality’s flag has a small Union Jack in its corner, then that country is probably a member of the Commonwealth Nations; some examples: New Zealand, Australia, and the Canadian provincial flags of Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia.

The Union Jack is the most important of all British symbols, and it is flown by representatives of the United Kingdom all over the world; in the military and the navy, and in royalty.

The flag should always be flown with broader white diagonal in the higher position, nearest the top of the flagpole (as the earlier of the two to be placed on the flag, the cross of St Andrew, is entitled to the higher position). If it is ever flown upside down, with the broader white stripe at the base, it is usually taken as a sign of distress! Usually this only happens on the high seas, but was also widely used in this manner when forces were under siege, as in the Boer War, or during the fighting in India during the late 18th century.

*The national flag of Wales is a red dragon on a background of white and green. Wales is not represented in the Union Flag because when the first version of the flag appeared Wales was already united with England, but the Welsh flag is in widespread use throughout that country.

Answer 5

It isn't actually. The national flag is called The Union Flag. The Union Jack is a flag flown on a ship.

See wikipedia for an even more complicated explanation of how it got its name.

Answer 6

The UK Flag is NOT called the Union Jack, it is known as the Union Flag. It is only known as a Jack when it is flown on one of Her Majesties ships, in other word a vessel of the Royal Navy.

The flag is the Flag of Scotland (cross of St. Andrew) as the background, on top the Cross of St. Patrick (for Ireland) and then the English Flag on top, the Cross of St. George. Wales isn't on the flag because it is a Principality of Engalnd.

Flag came out in the Time of King James VI of Scotland became James I England in 1606 the Kingdoms of Scotland and England
to represent Union between the to states, although they were (and still are) independently run. Flag was the Cross of St. Andrew (for Scotland) as a background, and on top the Cross of St. George.
In 1801 (year of queen victoria's brith) when Ireland joined in due to the acts of union and the Cross of St. Patrick was put in between the St. Andrew and St. George.

That is why it is called the "UNION FLAG"


Hope that helps

Answer 7

Jack is an old English navel term for a flag.... Union is simply because it's joining of all the flags of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland...

Answer 8

Its a union of serval counties likes wales, scotland..