JOHNSTON
The surname Johnston is firmly rooted in Scotland and is etymologically derived from the personal name John, a name of Hebrew origin meaning “God is gracious”. In its earliest use it functioned as a patronymic identifier, marking the descendants of an individual called John.
In addition to its patronymic aspect, Johnston is a locational surname. It originates from lands in Annandale, Dumfriesshire, historically recorded as Jonistune. The second element of the name is the medieval English “tone” or “toun”, itself derived from the Olde English pre‑7th‑century “tun”, denoting a settlement. Consequently the name signifies “the settlement of Jonis”. Similar place‑name derivations are recorded in the city of Perth, once recorded as (St.) Johnstoun, and in the estate of Jonystoun in the parish of Humbie, East Lothian.
Historical documentation traces the appearance of the surname to the late twelfth century. According to the Annandale Family Book of the Johnstones, a man named Jonis accompanied his overlords from Yorkshire circa 1174 and was granted the lands that subsequently bore his name. His son, Gilbert, is the first known individual to adopt the territorial surname, appearing in a charter as Gilbertus de Jonistune around 1195. A later bearer, Johan de Jonestone, a knight of Dunfrys, rendered homage to King John Balliol in 1296.
The surname is classified within the British Isles as a geographical‑feature type name, reflecting its Celtic origin and association with Gaelic language and Christian religion. These cultural attributes underline the broader Celtic heritage of the Scottish Lowlands in which the name developed.
Johnston remains a common name throughout Scotland. Variant spellings include Johnson and Johnstone, each reflecting phonetic and orthographic shifts over the centuries.
Prominent historical figures bearing the name include Archibald Johnston (1610–1663), Lord Warriston, a Scottish statesman who served in the House of Lords under both Oliver and Richard Cromwell; Samuel Johnston (1733–1816), who held the offices of Governor of North Carolina, United States Senator and Supreme Court judge; Sir Alexander Johnston (1775–1849), advocate‑general of Ceylon; and Christopher Johnstone, who married Helen Murray in Langholm, Dumfries on 2 June 1718. These individuals illustrate the surname’s enduring presence in political and legal spheres.
Typical given names associated with the Johnston surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Paul
- Robert
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Johnston in...
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Johnston are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Gingernut.
There are approximately 49,348 people named Johnston in the UK. That makes it the 141st most common surname in Britain. Around 758 in a million people in Britain are named Johnston.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Johnston
- Sue Johnston - Actress
- Mo Johnston - Scottish football player and manager
- Kristen Johnston - American actress
- Reginald Johnston - Diplomat and academic (1874 to 1938)
- Michael Johnston - Scottish football player
- Willie Johnston - Scottish football player
- Edward Johnston - Craftsman, calligrapher and typographer (1872 to 1944)
- Brian Johnston - BBC cricket commentator (1912 to 1994)
- Harry Johnston - Explorer, botanist, linguist and colonial administrator (1858 to 1927)
- Andrew Johnston - Golfer
- Andrew Johnston - Scottish singer
- Ben Johnston - Musician
- Alan Johnston - Journalist
- Allan Johnston - Scottish football player and manager
- James Johnston - Scottish bassist, vocalist, and songwriter
- Rich Johnston - Online columnist on comic books
- Davie Johnston - Football player
- Antony Johnston - Writer, mainly of comics, known for his post-apocalyptic series Wasteland and adapting Alan Moore's
- David Russell Russell-Johnston - Politician (1932 to 2008)
- Jan Johnston - Singer-songwriter
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.