Flag - Union Jack

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(creator unknown)

Subcollections

Overview

rectangular-shaped fabric flag. Blue background with two crosses, red over white.

Historical information

Formally, the correct term for the UK’s national flag is the Union Flag. When this flag is flown on land—at public buildings, during national events, or by civilians—it is technically the Union Flag. However, when the same design is flown on a naval ship, it is traditionally called the Union Jack, because it was originally flown as a small ensign at the bow (front) of British warships.

Union Flag: the correct term when the flag is displayed on land.
Union Jack: historically used for the flag flown at sea.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-124-2026.232

Item type

Flags

Themes

Defence > Navy

Material

Fabrics

Width

787 mm

Height or length

482 mm

Inscriptions and markings

(none)

Contextual information

Officially, the flag is called the “Union Flag.” So why is “Union Jack” the more common name? Where does “Jack” come from?

The most widely accepted explanation traces it to naval terminology. “Jack” originally referred to a small flag flown from the jackstaff — a small flagpole at the bow of a ship. When Royal Navy vessels began flying the Union Flag at their bows, it came to be called the “Union Jack.” Under this interpretation, strictly speaking, “Union Jack” is technically correct only when referring to the flag as flown at the bow of a naval vessel; on land or in civilian contexts, “Union Flag” is the proper term.

Keywords

Flag

Navy Signalling

Place made

United Kingdom

Primary significance criteria

Artistic or aesthetic significance

Historic significance

Last modified

Monday, 17 August, 2026

Completeness

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