The breed got its name from the clergyman Rev. John Russell. This is because this small breed of dog was first bred by this hunting enthusiast parson. This breed was actually used in the mid 1800s for hunting small games. They were especially used while hunting white fox as these dogs are expert in digging the quarry and bringing out the red foxes from their dens. This dog breed also traces its origin from the currently extinct English White terrier. Since there was difficulty in differentiating the dog from the game it was pursuing as both were white John Russell felt the need to change the color of this almost white dog.