Correctly it's the Union Flag, comprising the crosses of St George, St Andrew and St Patrick, representing three of the countries of the UK. It is technically only a "Jack" when flown at the jackstaff (at the bows) of a ship.
(Not quite)
"The original Union Flag was introduced in 1606 as a maritime flag,
and in 1634 a Royal Proclamation laid down that the Union Flag
was reserved for His Majesty's Ships of War and forbid
merchant ships to wear it..........
It is quite clear that the name Union Jack was the name given to
the distinguishing flag of His Majesty's Ships, and that it is proper
to call this flag a Union Jack when flying in a ship, but this flag
which was formerly purely maritime is now used as the National flag
of Britain and some consider that it is incorrect to call it a Union Jack
when it is not flying in a ship and that when flying ashore
it should be called the Union Flag.
Strictly this view may be correct, and there would be no doubt as
to its correctness if the flagused were the 1900 War Office pattern,
but this is not so, and the flag that is seen in Britain flying from the
Houses of Parliament and other public buildings is the pattern
adopted by the Royal Navy.
Furthermore, it has been called the Union Jack in modern times
in Parliament and so by common useage it is considered that it
IS CORRECT to call this flag, which is to all intents the National flag
of the United Kingdom, the UNION JACK . It would also appear that
the 1900 War Office version should not be called the Union Jack; in
fact it is generally known as the 'Gret Union Flag'."
"Flags of the World"
Edited by E.M.C Barraclough C.B.E., R.N. and
W.G. Crampton M.ED.
The Union Flag of the United Kingdom evolved gradually as England and Scotland united in 1707 to form Great Britain and then Great Britain united with Ireland in 1801 to form the UK. In the first union the red cross of St George (the English flag) was overlaid by the white saltire (x-shaped cross) of St Andrew (the Scottish flag). In the second union a red saltire was incorporated to represent Ireland. The result was the Union Flag. When flown on a jackstaff at sea it is called the Union Jack.
Answer When referring to the Union Flag, the words "jack" and "flag" are considered interchangable, although technically, as pointed out above, a "jack" is flown at sea.
Some Members of the Commonwealth which replaced the British empire retain the union flag as part of their countries flag such as Australia and Newzealand.
The U.k
Union Flag, or more casually the Union Jack
I'm not sure what you mean by 'special name', but the official name for the British flag is: Union Jack
The jack refers to the jackstay of a ship, on which the Union Jack would be displayed. Strictly speaking the flag should be called the Union Flag, but Union Jack is well known. Actually, the union jack is what the flag is called out at sea, but the union flag is what they call it on land.
New Zealand is a commonwealth country which derived from English origins thus the Union Jack.
The Union Jack is the nickname of the UK flag.
It's Greece's flag.
The Union Jack is the flag flown at the bow of a Royal Navy ship. The Union Flag is the flag of Great Britain.
The Union Jack is let to fly on the ships also on sea but the Union Flag is let to fly on Land. That is the difference between the two two flags. Hope this Helps. :) The Union Jack was never called the union flag, The Union Jack was the flag of England
It's a union jack. From England.
Yes it is called the union jack
The nickname for the British flag is the Union Jack. Although it is only correctly known as this when flown on a ship.