<P> In other English - speaking countries , unique placeholder names , numbers and / or codenames have become more often used in the context of police investigations . This has included the United Kingdom , where usage of `` John Doe '' originated during the Middle Ages . However , the legal term John Doe injunction ( or John Doe Order ) , has survived in English law and other legal systems influenced by it . Other names used informally such as `` Joe Bloggs '' or `` John Smith '' have sometimes been informally used as placeholders for an everyman in the UK , Australia and New Zealand , such names are seldom used in legal or police circles in the same sense as John Doe . </P>
<P> In other English - speaking countries , unique placeholder names , numbers and / or codenames have become more often used in the context of police investigations . This has included the United Kingdom , where usage of `` John Doe '' originated during the Middle Ages . However , the legal term John Doe injunction ( or John Doe Order ) , has survived in English law and other legal systems influenced by it . Other names used informally such as `` Joe Bloggs '' or `` John Smith '' have sometimes been informally used as placeholders for an everyman in the UK , Australia and New Zealand , such names are seldom used in legal or police circles in the same sense as John Doe . </P>
where did the name jane doe and john doe come from
where did the name jane doe and john doe come from
the United Kingdom , where usage of `` John Doe '' originated during the Middle Ages
the United Kingdom , where usage of `` John Doe '' originated during the Middle Ages