Johnson Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Johnson originates from the English surname meaning 'son of John'. It has evolved from historical forms of the name John, tracing back to Hebrew roots. The name is associated with traits of lineage and heritage. There is no biblical relevance connected to the surname itself. Johnson has been widely recognized since the Middle Ages and remains a prevalent surname today.
The name Johnson is most popular in California, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Johnson has been stalled for male in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Johnson' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 746th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 970th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1203rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1605th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1088th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1662nd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2379th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 8598th out of 9107 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 18004th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 23525th out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Johnson' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Johnson"
Pronunciation
/ˈdʒɒnsən/
Origin
English
Etymology
The surname Johnson means 'son of John'. It is derived from the given name John, which itself comes from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning 'Yahweh is gracious'.
Meaning
son of John
Language Evolution
John (Old English: Iohannes), Johannes (Latin), Yochanan (Hebrew)
Historical Usage
The surname Johnson became popular in England during the Middle Ages as a patronymic surname, especially after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
Variants & Derivatives
Johnston, Jonson, Johnsen
Modern Popularity & Image
Johnson is a common surname in English-speaking countries and often evokes a sense of tradition and family lineage.
Famous People
Andrew Johnson (17th President of the United States), Magic Johnson (American former professional basketball player), Boris Johnson (British politician and former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom)
Explore More Johnson Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Johnson"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Johnson"
"Johnson" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 746th of 7545 | 1,215 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 970th of 6773 | 811 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1203rd of 7552 | 756 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1605th of 10718 | 480 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1088th of 16616 | 1,423 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1662nd of 24088 | 1,303 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2379th of 23106 | 682 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 8598th of 9107 | 6 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 18004th of 19264 | 6 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 23525th of 27321 | 10 |
Regional Popularity of "Johnson" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
26.42% 625th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
47.05% 1107th/2353 |
62.51% 967th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
45.67% 1303rd/2853 |
30.67% 851st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
48.89% 1703rd/3483 |
49.91% 1756th/3518 |
41.44% 1676th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
24.74% 1107th/4475 |
23.72% 1232nd/5194 |
11.83% 747th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
26.45% 1366th/5164 |
23.59% 1725th/7313 |
17.04% 1272nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
47.76% 2143rd/4487 |
32.63% 2226th/6822 |
29.60% 1858th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Johnson" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Johnson"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Johnson" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.