Johns History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Wales 


Early Origins of the Johns family

The surname Johns was first found in Carmarthenshire (Welsh: Sir Gaerfyrddin), located in Southwest Wales, one of thirteen historic counties and presently one of the principal area in Wales, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Johns family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Johns research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Johns History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Johns Spelling Variations

The Welsh have an extremely large amount of spelling variations of their native surnames to their credit. It was up to the priest or the scribe taking the official records to determine how the spoken name was to be made literal. As time progressed, the old Brythonic names of Wales were recorded in English, which was especially problematic since the English language had extreme difficulty recording the highly inflected sounds of Cymraeg. Spelling variations were, however, also carried out according to an individual's design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations could be indicated by spelling variations of one's name. The spelling variations of the name Johns have included Johnes, Johns, John, Johne and others.

Early Notables of the Johns family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was

Johns World Ranking

In the United States, the name Johns is the 614th most popular surname with an estimated 47,253 people with that name. 1 However, in Australia, the name Johns is ranked the 251st most popular surname with an estimated 13,902 people with that name. 2 And in New Zealand, the name Johns is the 298th popular surname with an estimated 2,035 people with that name. 3 The United Kingdom ranks Johns as 629th with 10,440 people. 4


Johns migration to the United States +

During the latter half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the people of Wales journeyed to North America to find a new life. They made major contributions to the arts, industry and commerce of both Canada and the United States, and added a rich cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Johns:

Johns Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Johns Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Johns Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Johns Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Johns migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Johns Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Johns Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Johns migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Johns Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
Johns Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century

Johns migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Johns Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Johns (post 1700) +


The Johns Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Deus pascit corvos
Motto Translation: God feeds the ravens.


Suggested Readings for the name Johns +
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