Johnson
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Johnson Surname Genealogy
Select Johnson Resources on The Internet
Ben Jonson, a contemporary of Shakespeare, was a dramatist and poet, best known for his satirical plays.
Samuel Johnson was the famous compiler of A Dictionary of the English Language.
Howard Johnson was the founder of Howard Johnson restaurants.
Robert Wood Johnson and his two brothers James and Edward were the founders in 1885 of the company that became Johnson & Johnson.
Jack Johnson was the first black heavyweight boxing champion of the world in 1908.
Lyndon B. Johnson was the 36th President of the United States.
Philip Johnson was a very influential late 20th century architect.
Michael Johnson holds the fastest times in the world for the 200 and 400 meters.
Select Johnsons Today
Johnson is a patronymic name meaning
"son of
John." John became popular as a first name in England, rivalling
William, in the 13th century. It was first recorded as a surname
(Jonessone) in 1287.
Early Johnsons - who claimed descent from the Norman fitzJohns - were to be seen in Lincolnshire. These Johnsons acquired Ayscoughfee Hall, one of the landmarks of the Lincolnshire fens, in the 17th century. Later, like the other "-son" surnames, the name distribution was more north than south. In the 19th century, one third of all Johnsons in England were to be found in Yorkshire and Lancashire.
Johnston or Johnstone, from "John's town" or John's settlement in Dumfries, has been the more common name in Scotland. These Johnsons were (until dispersed) one of the larger Border clans. Johnsons in Ireland could be transplanted Scotsmen (mainly to be found in county Fermanagh) or anglicized names from the Gaelic Mac Sean (McShane) or Mac Eoin (McKeown).
The Johnsons in America outnumber the UK Johnsons by more than two to one. This is because the US has absorbed Johnsons from many other countries and languages.
Early Johnsons - who claimed descent from the Norman fitzJohns - were to be seen in Lincolnshire. These Johnsons acquired Ayscoughfee Hall, one of the landmarks of the Lincolnshire fens, in the 17th century. Later, like the other "-son" surnames, the name distribution was more north than south. In the 19th century, one third of all Johnsons in England were to be found in Yorkshire and Lancashire.
Johnston or Johnstone, from "John's town" or John's settlement in Dumfries, has been the more common name in Scotland. These Johnsons were (until dispersed) one of the larger Border clans. Johnsons in Ireland could be transplanted Scotsmen (mainly to be found in county Fermanagh) or anglicized names from the Gaelic Mac Sean (McShane) or Mac Eoin (McKeown).
The Johnsons in America outnumber the UK Johnsons by more than two to one. This is because the US has absorbed Johnsons from many other countries and languages.
Select Johnson Resources on The Internet
- Johnson Family History. A Johnson forum.
Ben Jonson, a contemporary of Shakespeare, was a dramatist and poet, best known for his satirical plays.
Samuel Johnson was the famous compiler of A Dictionary of the English Language.
Howard Johnson was the founder of Howard Johnson restaurants.
Robert Wood Johnson and his two brothers James and Edward were the founders in 1885 of the company that became Johnson & Johnson.
Jack Johnson was the first black heavyweight boxing champion of the world in 1908.
Lyndon B. Johnson was the 36th President of the United States.
Philip Johnson was a very influential late 20th century architect.
Michael Johnson holds the fastest times in the world for the 200 and 400 meters.
Select Johnsons Today
- 215,000 in the UK (most numerous in London)
- 572,000 in America (most numerous in Texas)
- 127,000 elsewhere (most numerous in Canada)