Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Jack” come from?

Jack is a nickname for John, deriving through Old French Johan and Latin Iohannes from Hebrew Yohanan, meaning "God is gracious."

Jack (English): A placeholder or conventional name for any man,...

Definitions

  1. A placeholder or conventional name for any man,...

Ancestry of “Jack”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishjakke—
2Anglo-Normanjacke—
3Middle Frenchjaque—
4Middle Frenchjacques—
5Frenchjacquesplural of jacque; a stupid person; a jemmy or...
6LatinIacobusJacob; James; Saint James
7Ancient GreekἸάκωβος—
8Ancient GreekἸακώβ—
9HebrewיַעֲקֹבJacob
10Hebrewעָקֵבheel of the foot; heel

Words derived from “Jack”

  • Jackson
  • Jake
  • Jacksonville
  • Jacky
  • Jacksonian
  • Jakes
  • Jacko
  • Jaggs
  • jackstay
  • cheapjack
  • Jackett
  • Jaxson
  • Jacksonite
  • Jacksonesque
  • Jaxen
  • Jaxton
  • jackslave
  • Jax
  • jack of all trades
  • jack o'lantern
  • ジャクソン
  • Jack
  • Jack
  • ג׳קסון
Every word from Hebrew עָקֵב →