The Jolly Roger Flag

• Jolly Roger flag contained a skull on black or red background, with two crossed bones underneath.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  The Jolly Roger was one of the most famous flags, which was also known as the skull and crossbones flag. It is now a generally accepted term for "pirate flags" as well. The flag had either a black or red background and featured a white skull in the center. Underneath the skull were two crossed bones, which projected death, devilishness and fearlessness among pirates. There are no authentic sources available for the derivation of the name itself. Some sources say that the Jolly Roger is derived from the word "jolie rouge," and some say it is a derivation of the British word "old roger," meaning devil.
  
  

Blackbeard's Flag

• Blackbeard was a famous and dangerous pirate of his time. He began his sailing as a privateer out of Jamaica and was known as a bloodthirsty killer who used to kill his own crewmembers for fun and as a hobby. His flag had a black background and a skeleton-piercing spear in the bleeding heart while holding an hourglass. The hourglass represented that the time was up and bleeding heart symbolized no mercy. The flag was a death threat to enemies and suggested that whoever tried to confront him would be brutally killed.
  
  

John Avery's Flag

• John Avery, also known as Henry Every and Long Ben, started his piracy in 1694 when he helped a crew of Spaniards mutiny. The John Avery's flag featured a sideways-looking skull, with either a red or black background. The skull was further accessorized with a bandana and an earring, and underneath the skull were two crossed bones. The flag was designed to threaten, intimidate and spread fear among the enemies. The skull and bones were the warning for something dangerous, deadly and poisonous.
  
  

Calico John Rackham's & Edward Low's Flags

• The flag of John Rackham had a black background, which featured a picture of a smiling white skull with crossed cutlasses or swords. This pirate flag is used in the Hollywood movie "Pirates of the Caribbean" as well. Edward Lowe was an extraordinary pirate and enjoyed torturing his captives. His flag had a black background with a red skeleton in the center. Both the flags symbolized fearlessness among pirates in the face of death.