John Doe Look up John Doe at Dictionary.com
fictitious plaintiff in a legal action, attested from 1768 (in Blackstone). The fictitious defendant was Richard Roe. Replaced earlier John-a-nokes (1530s), who usually was paired with John-a-stiles. By 1852, John Doe was being used for "any man whose name is not known." John Doe warrant attested from 1935.