I used this term the other day but couldn't explain the origin to my kids, can anyone help?

What is the original of the term John Q. Public and what does the Q stand for? Amy

-- Amy Richards (amysgarden2@earthlink.net), February 17, 2002

Answers

Google suggests that the name John Q. public date back to John Quincy Adams, stating that the name is parallel to the average citizen, as JQA suggested. Further research is suggested.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), February 17, 2002.