Show ContentsJohnson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Johnson Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Johnson

What does the name Johnson mean?

Johnson is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. Johnson is a name that comes from the given name John and the name literally means "son of John." 1 The given name John is derived from the Hebrew name Johanan, which means Jehovah has favored. The name was extremely popular in the Middle Ages as a result of the numerous connections between the name John and the Christian Church.

"With the exception of the south - western counties, where it is absent or conspicuously rare, this name is distributed all over England, but in much less numbers in the south than in the midlands and in the north. The counties most conspicuous for the number of Johnsons are Cambridge, Cheshire, Derby, Durham, Lancashire, Leicester and Rutland, Lincoln, Norfolk, Northumberland, Notts, Stafford, Warwick, and York." 2 Johnson is the 10th most popular surname in England and Wales.

Early Origins of the Johnson family

The surname Johnson was first found in Lincolnshire, where many of the ancient and leading houses of the family name claim descent originally from the house of FitzJohn in Normandy, particularly that of one of the leading branches and oldest, the Johnsons of Ayscough-Fee. 3

Later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list many of the name: Willelmus Joneson; Willelmus Johnson, 1379; Robertus Johanson; Juliana Jonesson; Ricardus Joneson; and Robertas Jonson. 1

Early History of the Johnson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Johnson research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1375, 1503, 1572, 1629, 1637, 1644, 1659, 1675, 1680, 1682, 1688, 1689, 1713, 1717, 1719, 1735, 1775, 1797 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Johnson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Johnson Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Johnson, Joneson, Jonson, Joynson and others.

Early Notables of the Johnson family

  • Daniel Johnson (1629-1675), an English buccaneer born in Bristol, who sailed against the Spanish during the late 17th century becoming known among the Spanish as "Johnson the Terror"
  • Sir Nathaniel Johnson (1644-1713), an English soldier and a Member of Parliament for Newcastle-upon-Tyne (1680-1689)
  • Sir Henry Johnson (c. 1659-1719) of The Gate House, Blackwall, Middlesex
  • Maurice Johnson (1688-1775), who founded the Spalding Gentlemen's Society, a forum of discussion for local men who over the years have included Sir Isaac Newton and Alfred Lord Tennyson

Johnson World Ranking

the United States, the name Johnson is the 2nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,014,470 people with that name. 4 However, in Canada, the name Johnson is ranked the 9th most popular surname with an estimated 79,492 people with that name. 5 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Johnson is the 493rd popular surname. 6 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Johnson as 80th with 352 people. 7 France ranks Johnson as 4,983rd with 1,500 - 2,000 people. 8 Australia ranks Johnson as 8th with 67,462 people. 9 New Zealand ranks Johnson as 19th with 6,145 people. 10 The United Kingdom ranks Johnson as 10th with 151,464 people. 11 South Africa ranks Johnson as 166th with 37,484 people. 12

Migration of the Johnson family to Ireland

Some of the Johnson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 76 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Johnson migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Johnson or a variant listed above were:

Johnson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mr. William Johnson, laborer who arrived in Jamestown, Virginia aboard the ship "Discovery" in 1607 14
  • Mr. Joseph Johnson, who arrived in Virginia in 1618 aboard the ship "William and Thomas" 14
  • Mrs. Johnson, who arrived in Virginia in 1619 aboard the ship "Bona Nova" 14
  • Mr. Edward Johnson, (b. 1595), aged 26, British settler who arrived in Virginia in 1621 aboard the ship "Abigaile" 15
  • Mr. Richard Johnson, aged 22, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 aboard the ship "Southampton" 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Johnson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Catherine Johnson, who landed in Virginia in 1703 16
  • Arthur Johnson, who arrived in Virginia in 1713 16
  • Anne Johnson, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 16
  • Adam Johnson, who landed in New England in 1738 16
  • Abraham Johnson, who landed in New England in 1760 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Johnson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Bryan Johnson, aged 25, who arrived in New York in 1812 16
  • Deborah Johnson, who landed in Massachusetts in 1813 16
  • Archibald Johnson, aged 21, who arrived in Maryland in 1813 16
  • Michael Johnson, who was living in New York in 1818
  • Mr. Thomas Johnson, aged 28, Irish farmer who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina aboard the ship "Prince Leopold"on 15th November 1820
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Johnson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Christ Johnson, who arrived in New York, NY in 1905 16
  • Alfred Johnson, who arrived in Wisconsin in 1914 16
  • Arnold Johnson, who landed in Wisconsin in 1917 16

Johnson migration to Canada +

Johnson Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
Johnson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • James Johnson, who was living in Lower Island Cove, Newfoundland in 1768 17
  • Mr. John Johnson U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 465 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York 18
  • Mr. Jonas Johnson U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 18
  • Mr. George Johnson U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 member of the Port Matoon Association 18
  • Mr. Henry Johnson U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 18
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Johnson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Bridget Johnson, who arrived in Quebec in 1825
  • Joseph Johnson, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Billow" in 1833
  • Mr. James Johnson, aged 6 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Sir Henry Pottinger" departing from the port of Belfast, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle on 1st October 1847 19
  • Mr. James Johnson, aged 40 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Lady Gordon" departing from the port of Belfast, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle on 28th June 1847 19
  • Mr. Joseph Johnson, aged 2 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Superior" departing from the port of Londonderrry, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle In September 1847 19
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Johnson Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Matthew Johnson, American settler who sailed aboard the ship "Stavangerfjord" arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1951
  • Mrs. Bertha Johnson, American settler who sailed aboard the ship "Stavangerfjord" arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1951

Johnson migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet, Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet
  • Mr. James Johnson, (b. 1770), aged 19, British settler convicted at Surrey, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 13
  • Mr. John Johnson, British settler convicted at Yorkshire, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing a horse, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 14
  • Mr. Richard Johnson, British settler convicted at Kent, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 14
  • Mr. Simon Johnson, British settler convicted at Yorkshire, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for shop lifting, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 14
  • Mr. Thomas Johnson, British settler convicted at Surrey, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 14
Second Fleet
  • Mr. Edward Johnson, British settler convicted in London, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Salamander" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 14
  • Miss Elizabeth Johnson, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Third Fleet" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 14
  • Mr. George Johnson, (b. 1768), aged 22, British settler convicted in Northumberland, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Matilda" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 14
  • Mr. John Johnson, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for breaking and entry, transported aboard the ship "Third Fleet" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 14
  • Miss Mary Johnson, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Mary Ann" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 14
Third Fleet
  • Mr. Charles Johnson, (b. 1763), aged 24, English convicted in Manchester, England on 14th April 1785, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Alexander" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788, he died aboard the ship 14
  • Mr. William Johnson, (b. 1762), aged 25, English labourer convicted in Kingston upon Thames, London on 24th March 1784, sentenced for 7 years for highway robbery, transported aboard the ship "Scarborough" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 14
  • Mr. Edward Johnson, (b. 1757), aged 30, English settler convicted in Dorchester, Dorset on 16th March 1786, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Charlotte" leaving on 13th May 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 22nd January 1788 14
  • Miss Catherine Johnson, (b. 1770), aged 17, English settler convicted in London on 18th April 1787, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Prince of Wales" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 14
  • Miss Mary Johnson, (b. 1763), aged 24, English settler convicted in London on 26th April 1786, sentenced for 7 years for stealing clothing, transported aboard the ship "Prince of Wales" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 14
Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Johnson Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
  • Mr. John Johnson, (Presbury), English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for life, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 20
  • Mr. John Johnson, English convict who was convicted in Norwich, Norfolk, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 20
  • Miss Mary Johnson, (b. 1772), aged 26, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Britannia III" on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1852 21
  • Miss Sarah Johnson, (b. 1783), aged 15, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Britannia III" on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1840 21
  • Mr. Robert Johnson, Irish settler who was convicted in Ireland for life for political prisoner, transported aboard the  "Friendship" on 24th August 1799, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 22
Johnson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Johnson 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:

Johnson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • James Johnson, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1836 aboard the ship Success
  • William Johnson, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1836
  • Richard Johnson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Thomas Johnson, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
  • W Johnson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Adelaide 25
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Johnson migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 26
Johnson Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Abram Johnson, (b. 1607), aged 27, British settler travelling from London, UK arriving in St Christopher (St. Kitts) on 5th January 1634 16
  • Mr. John Johnson, (b. 1616), aged 18, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Hopewell" arriving in Barbados on 17th February 1634 16
  • Mr. John Johnson, (b. 1612), aged 23, British settler travelling aboard the ship "The Dorset" arriving in Barbados in September 1635 27
  • Mr. James Johnson, aged 28 who arrived in St. Kitts (St Christopher) aboard the ship "Amity" in 1635 15
  • Benjamin Johnson, who immigrated to Barbados in 1660

Contemporary Notables of the name Johnson (post 1700) +

  • John Harold Johnson (1918-2005), American businessman, publisher, founder of the Johnson Publishing Company, the first African American to appear on the Forbes 400, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • Frank Minis Johnson Jr. (1918-1999), American Federal judge and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • Earvin "Magic" Johnson (b. 1959), retired American professional basketball player honored as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024
  • Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (b. 1964), British politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (2019-2022)
  • Edward Mead Johnson (1852-1934), American lawyer and businessman from Evansville, Indiana, one of the co-founders of Johnson & Johnson
  • Edward Crosby "Ned" Johnson III (1930-2022), American billionaire investor and businessman who with daughter Abigail Johnson, owned and ran Fidelity Investments and Fidelity International until his death
  • Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson (1918-2020), American mathematician, known for her calculations of orbital mechanics at NASA, awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2019, inspiration for the film Hidden Figures
  • President Andrew Johnson (1808-1875), American politician, 17th President of the United States (1865 to 1869), succeeding to the Presidency upon the assassination of Abraham Lincoln
  • Garry George "Jellybean" Johnson (1956-2025), American drummer, guitarist, songwriter, record producer, and musician based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • ... (Another 211 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Arrow Air Flight 1285
  • Mr. Ravon Leroy Johnson (1957-1985), American Staff Sergeant from Eaton, North Carolina, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 28
  • Mr. Jerrin Andrea Johnson (1964-1985), American Private from Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 29
  • Peter Johnson, British crew aboard the ship "Cataraqui" when sailing for Melbourne, Australia she struck rocks of Kings Island and sank on 4th April 1845, he survived
  • Albert Edward Johnson (1907-1943), Australian Lieutenant who died aboard the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
  • James C. Johnson, Australian Warrant Officer II who survived when the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
  • ... (Another 106 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Suggested Readings for the name Johnson +

  • The Johnson Family by Ruby Wiedman.
  • Some Johnsons of Southern Maryland by Leona A. Cryer.
  • Those Handy Nordics by Ethel Marie Johnson Taylor.
  • The Descendants of William and John Johnson..
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  6. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  7. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  8. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  9. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  10. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  11. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  12. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
  13. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  14. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  15. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  16. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  17. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  18. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  19. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 35)
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
  21. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Britannia
  22. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au
  23. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
  24. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
  25. Shadow Time Settlers (Retrieved 5th November 2010), retrieved from http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/settlers.html
  26. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  27. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  28. American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550

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