Everybody knows that junk email got it's name from the canned meat Spam, but most people do no understand why.

The name Spam was given to junk mail because of a Monty Python skit from the 1970s. The skit took place in a dinner where Spam was part of every entree. The patrons chanted, “Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam... lovely Spam! Wonderful Spam!”

In the early days of the internet people would flood the Bulletin Board System with the word “Spam” in reference to the Monty Python skit. This would not only be annoying, but it would clog the system because of the slow internet connection. Originally, this was referred to as flooding or trashing. These users were using the word Spam like they did in the Monty Pyton skit, so the word Spam became the new term for flooding.

Since then any unwanted email, message board or comment posts that is unwanted is now called Spam.

Watch the original Monty Python skit below.