Why are so many pirates named "Jack"?

[Obadiah Jib]

Beside the fact that the name Jack is cool and implies a rather roguish nature why do you suppose so many pirates have taken the name?  You just don't see a lot of pirates named "Tom"...

[Cobaltblu]

Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean
Calico Jack Rackham the real pirate
The song Captain Jack by Billy Joel
etc

Since POTC there has probably been a huge increase in pirates named Jack.

Regards,

CB

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

During the GAoP and some years after, the common expression for a sailor was "Jack Tar", the equivalent of today's "Joe Blow".  Since the nickname Jack has a certain rakish, rough-and-tumble connotation, it's not surprising that name gets attributed to or taken by the piratically inclined.

And since my name actually is Jack, I didn't have to look far for inspiration. 

But there were a fair number of pirates named Tom.  Anstis, Tew, Howard, and White were all written about in Captain Johnson's "A General History of the Pirates".

[Blackjack Roberts]

Me own reasons were a nod to a couple of me personal favorite pirates. The afore mentioned Calico Jack, and Black Bart Roberts.

(With a slight nudge from a minor character in the 70's Marvel comic "Shang Chi-Master of Kung Fu" named Blackjack Tar.)

Hence: Blackjack Roberts.

[Obadiah Jib]

Seems to be some mythology that follows the name... Jack the Giant Slayer, Jack of Shadows, etc...

Interesting stuff savvy?

[Blackjack Roberts]

Aye, mate.

Especially 'round and about England. Spring heeled Jack, Jumpin' Jack Flash. The list seems near inexhaustible.

[skrid the brown]

Aye!  The wife and I be partaking in the swilling of rum...

[Madge Estes]

As stated, "Jack" was a name used for the common man in the period... Like John Doe.  If you go back and look at Shakespeare's writing, you will see many instances of "Jack".

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

Ya gotta love Ol' Billy Shakes! 

[NoBill Lurker]

As stated, "Jack" was a name used for the common man in the period... Like John Doe.  If you go back and look at Shakespeare's writing, you will see many instances of "Jack".

Could this have been start of the use of the phrase " You don't know JacK" ?

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

Actually, the use of "Jack" as a catch-all came from the French "Jaques", which was a slang term for "peasant" centuries ago.

The phrase "you don't know jack [squat, shyte, etc]" didn't become popular until around 1970.

[Anna Iram]

"Jack" originated from the Middle English jakke (1350–1400). Jakke was used in addressing any male, especially one considered a social inferior, and was extended to anything male, including designation a variety of inanimate objects. Variants included Jakken and Jankin with the addition of the diminutive suffix "-kin" (similar to the German "-chen") to the name "Jan," (John) which was itself a contracted version of the name "Jehan." One of names formed, "Jankin," then became "Jackin", and eventually "Jack". The process of back-formation has possibly led many to believe that the name is related to the French "Jacques," owing to phonological similarities, but this seems to be coincidence. Although it is possible and may appear at first glance to be derived from the French Jacques—which is cognate with the names James and Jacob—native speakers of English have historically associated the name "Jack" with John and only very rarely with "Jacob" (in which case the usual shortened form Jake is preferred). This would make it a variant of names like "Hans" or "Seán".

From Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_(name)

[Obadiah Jib]

Jacks as a suit of cards.  At one time the suit was called "Knaves".

[Blackjack Roberts]

Jacks as a suit of cards.  At one time the suit was called "Knaves".

I knew there was another reason I liked the name.

[Capt Robertsgrave Thighbiter]

Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack.....

Can't we get this Jack off?

[Anna Iram]

Well...there's always Jackin...the diminutive form of Jack. But then who wants to confess to being diminutive!!? 

[tiberiusflynn]

Honestly, though I love the movies, I wish Jack Sparrow wasn't named, Jack.

As someone that IS called Jack in his everyday life, drinks rum, and rides in a motorcycle group titled, "Pirates of Texas".....AND plays a pirate at Ren Faire....I get called Capt. Jack and "Jack Sparrow" by many.....

[Capt Lucy]

On the same type of note...why do all the people who make new pirate persona suddenly Captains???    lol.  That's been a beef of mine for as long as I can remember!  Yes I know I am one, but I have been one since before POTC and the great Pirate Explosion.  Not a huge deal, I just find it funny.  There are a lot of cool positions on a pirate ship!

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

The answer is very simple in my case.  I hate taking orders.  As Milton wrote; "It is better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven." 

[tiberiusflynn]

The answer is very simple in my case.  I hate taking orders.  As Milton wrote; "It is better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven." 

Ah, great quote...used in Jack London's "The Sea Wolf" also....

[Capt Lucy]

The answer is very simple in my case.  I hate taking orders.  As Milton wrote; "It is better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven." 

Hahaha... yeah, don't we all.   

[Obadiah Jib]

I'm a first mate/ Quarter Master.

I picked the role.  Most people just assume I'm the Captain because I'm such a sharp dresser.  The Captain hates that!

[Welsh Wench]

I'm a first mate/ Quarter Master.

I picked the role.  Most people just assume I'm the Captain because I'm such a sharp dresser.  The Captain hates that!

It's all in the jaunty tilt of your hat, and feathers, feathers, and FEATHERS!

'They come running just as fast as they can....really go crazy 'bout a sharp-dressed man!'

Or first mate/quartermaster.

[Lord Figaro]

I though it was just easier to spell, and looked better on the crew roster than X? Go figure.

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

I thought "X" was the universal alternate spelling of "Jack".  Especially when one has a hook arm. 

[Lord Figaro]

HUH, that makes more sense than Xavier, when ya think about it that way.