During the 1700s, practically every marionette show in England featured Punch, a hook-nosed humpbacked character, and his wife, Judy, originally called Joan—also a well-known figure. Traveling showmen carried these Punch-and-Judy puppet shows to country festivals in the summer and visited London for the fairs in August and September.

In the 1790s the marionettes lost their popularity at the fairs. There was, however, a new interest in the humbler glove puppets, and in this form the "Punch-and-Judy Show" became a success. Plots varied, but the principal players were Toby the Dog, the Baby, the Doctor, the Black Servant, the Beadle (a policeman), the Clown, the Hangman, the Ghost of Judy, Mr. Jones, Hector the Horse, the Crocodile, and the Devil. The hooked nose, the humped back, the tendency to wife-beating, and the outrageous lawlessness typical of the English Punch were established characteristics by the 19th century.

The brutal, vindictive and deceitful Punch (short for Punchinello, or Pulcinella in Italian) had roots in the Roman clown and the comic country bumpkin. More modern origins can be traced to Pulcinella, a theatre character who appeared in Italian comedy theatre in the 17th century. Italian actors soon began to travel throughout Europe, bringing with them the Punch-and-Judy showmen.

In England professional puppeteers carried on the vigorous tradition of Punch’s humour into the 21st century.

More Info: kids.britannica.com