The use of "John Doe" as a name for anonymous or unidentified people dates to 13th century England, when the name was first used in legal documents to protect the identity of witnesses. The concept of a false alias in legal documents is actually quite old; the Romans, for example, had their own version of "John Doe" for use in legal proceedings. This name was probably originally chosen because...
Why Is "John Doe" Used as a Name for an Anonymous Person?
Why Is "John Doe" Used as a Name for an Anonymous Person?
