The evolution of the Blue Ensign followed that of the Union Flag. The ensign originated in the 1600s with the St. George's cross in the canton, and with a blue field.

The Act of Union 1707 united Scotland, England and Wales in the Kingdom of Great Britain and produced a new blue ensign which placed the Union Flag in the canton. With the Act of Union 1800, Ireland joined the United Kingdom and the St Patrick's Cross was added to the Union Flag of the United Kingdom and, accordingly, to the cantons of the British ensigns from 1 January 1801.

Prior to the reorganisation of the Royal Navy in 1864, the plain blue ensign had been the ensign of one of three squadrons of the Royal Navy,known as the "Blue Squadron." This changed in 1864, when an order in council granted use of the Red Ensign to merchantmen. The Blue Ensign was to be flag of ships in public service or commanded by an officer in the Royal Naval Reserve, and the White Ensign was allocated to the Navy.

After 1864, the plain blue ensign is permitted to be flown, instead of the Red Ensign, by two types of civilian vessels. These were British merchant vessels whose officers and crew include a certain number of retired Royal Navy personnel or Royal Navy reservists, or are commanded by an officer of the Royal Navy Reserve in possession of a Government warrant. The other tyoe of vessel included yachts belonging to members of certain long-established British yacht clubs. Permission for yachts to fly the blue ensign was suspended during both World Wars.

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