Origins of the Johnston surname

What does the name Johnston mean?

The Johnston surname most often originates in Scotland. It is a habitational name and although can sometimes be found in England, mainly comes from the town of Johnston in Dumfriesshire (a derivation of the Middle English for 'John's Town'). Even in the modern era, the name is most often found in Scotland and the North of England.

Alternative variations of the name Johnston

Johnston, Johnstone, Jonston, Jonstone, Johnstan

Start free trial
“
I’ve managed to trace back to the mid-1500s! I can’t believe it! Utterly engrossing and I have uncovered some quite moving and heartbreaking stories attached to various ancestors. You don’t need any qualifications to start - just time patience, and some information.
SS
Stuart
Trustpilot logoTrustpilot 5 stars
1 of 3

Start your family tree

Trace your family back in time. Make new discoveries and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Johnstons.

Sign up to get started

Delve deeper into the Johnston family's history

OrkneyShetlandHighlandsWestern IslesGrampianTaysideCentralStrathclydeFifeLothianBordersDumfriesNorth East 1269North West 2024Isle of Man 23Yorkshire 533East Midlands 82West Midlands 190East 405London 2573South East 786South West 169South Wales 80Mid Wales 12West Wales 2North Wales 39Republic of IrelandNorthern Ireland

In 1921, most Johnstons lived in london

Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

110,000 Johnston Travel & migration records
190,000 Johnstons found in all Census records

Interesting facts about Johnston

How common is your surname?

176th most common surname in the UK

We have for the Johnston surname. The oldest one dates back to 1264.

Who were Johnstons most likely to marry?

Our tell us which families married Johnstons.

What are the most common Johnston first names?

John

William

Mary

Margaret

Our tell us the names of Johnston family members
Man with milk churns and census card collage
Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more.

Common jobs for Johnstons

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common female occupations for Johnstons in 1921

Dressmaker

1,087

Domestic Servant

796

Housekeeper

614

F S

564

House Keeper

486

Common male occupations for Johnstons in 1921

Coal Miner

1,051

Farmer

838

Joiner

768

Tailor

728

Fisherman

715

We found over 1,300,000 family trees with the Johnston surname

Trace your family back in time and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Johnstons.

Search for a relative in our family trees

Learn more about the lives of Johnston family members

How rare is your surname?

Have you ever wondered if your family na...

The rise and fall of these disappearing British surnames

Could your surname be on the brink of di...

English surnames explained: The seven types of last names you should know

Ever wondered where our last names come...

How to find the maiden names of women in your family tree

Try these simple tricks to pinpoint your...

4 simple steps to starting your family history journey

Starting your family history journey is...

Share your discoveries

Share to WhatsApp

Share to Facebook

Look for a different surname

Paper tear line

Find out more about your family in our records

    or try an advanced search