However, all those types are quite different from what we play today. In the 18th century, colonists brought the game to North America when various types of blackjack were popular. The name “ blackjack” comes from the jack of spades and jack of clubs. When translating both previously mentioned words to English, the game’s literal meaning is twenty-one. A Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes wrote in a short story that the main characters were cheating at a game called veintiuna. There are written records that trace back to 16th century Spain.
However, that’s not the only origin story about blackjack. Blackjack’s history goes back to the 17th century and French casinos, where locals played a card game called vingt-et-un as depicted on Theodoor Rombouts, The Card Players (pictured). It is difficult to pinpoint where blackjack originated, but many experts believe it comes from France.
