The breed was started in England by a man named Jack Russell .... who also happened to be a parson (a minister, a preacher, etc.) So his title was Parson Jack Russell, instead of Mr. Jack Russell. Just like you might see someone today who's title is Reverend Bob Smith or Father Eric Jones. He wanted a special dog to rid his church and parsonage of rats. The dogs were eventually named after him .... the Parson Jack Russell terrier.
The working jack russel people were upset with what the show jack russels were becoming and so asked to change the name to preserve the image of the working jack. So the Parson Russel is what you will find at the dog show and the jack russel is what you would find at a working trial.
Right. Kind of like how the working border collie people and the show border collie people want to rip each other's eyes out. I suppose at least the Russell people had the sense to split the breed.
I have a short-legged one, so I suppose he is still a Jack Russell. 
Not that I care much, one way or another.
"We give dogs the time we can spare, the space we can spare and the love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made" - M. Facklam
"We are raised to honor all the wrong explorers and discoverers - thieves planting flags, murderers carrying crosses. Let us at last praise the colonizers of dreams."- P.S. Beagle
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king." - J.R.R. Tolkien
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