Johnston (surname)
Encyclopedia
Johnston is a surname
which in most cases is a habitational surname
derived from several places in Scotland
, however it can most also be a variant of the surname Johnstone
. The surname is most common throughout Scotland and Ireland.
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
which in most cases is a habitational surname
Habitational name
A habitational name is a type of name. These names denote the starting inhabited location. Such locations can be any type of settlement, such as: homesteads, farms, enclosures, villages, hamlets, strongholds or cottages. The second element of a habitational name describes the type of settlement...
derived from several places in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, however it can most also be a variant of the surname Johnstone
Johnstone (surname)
Johnstone is a surname. It is a variant of the similar surname Johnston which in most cases is a habitational surname derived from several places in Scotland. However, it can also be a variant of the surname Johnson.-Etymology:...
. The surname is most common throughout Scotland and Ireland.
Etymology
- The habitational surname that originates in most cases from the place so called in Annandale, DumfriesshireDumfriesshireDumfriesshire or the County of Dumfries is a registration county of Scotland. The lieutenancy area of Dumfries has similar boundaries.Until 1975 it was a county. Its county town was Dumfries...
, Scotland. This surname is derived from the genitive case of the given nameGiven nameA given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
John and tone or toun ("settlement" in Middle EnglishMiddle EnglishMiddle English is the stage in the history of the English language during the High and Late Middle Ages, or roughly during the four centuries between the late 11th and the late 15th century....
; tun in Old English), literally meaning "John's town". There are several similar place names in Scotland, including the city of PerthPerth, ScotlandPerth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
, which was once known as St. John's Toun. This and other similarly named locations may also be sources for the surname Johnston. - Although the surname generally is recorded from coming from south western Scotland such as Annandale, this surname can also be traced back to the Johnstons of Hilton in AberdeenshireAberdeenshireAberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, Scotland. The earliest recorded use of the surname in AberdeenshireAberdeenshireAberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
was by Stiven de JohnstonStiven De Johnston- Life :Although Stiven de Johnstons date of birth and date of death were never recorded, he lived during the reign of King David II meaning that he was alive between 1331 and 1368. Johnston lived in Aberdeenshire, Scotland during this time...
in the 14th century, but it may have been used by others in this clan prior to Stiven. The use by Stiven de JohnstonStiven De Johnston- Life :Although Stiven de Johnstons date of birth and date of death were never recorded, he lived during the reign of King David II meaning that he was alive between 1331 and 1368. Johnston lived in Aberdeenshire, Scotland during this time...
and the Johnstons of Hilton clan likely came from south western Scotland, but Johnston's of northern Scotland trace their name back to Stiven de Johnston rather than to Annandale. - The Johnston surname may also trace its roots back to the ancient St. Johnston name. Johnston's from Perth claim that their ancestry dates to St. Johnston rather than Annandale or the Johnstons of Hilton.
- Johnston in other cases is a variant of the surname Johnson or Johnstone.
People with the surname Johnston
- Alan JohnstonAlan JohnstonAlan Graham Johnston is a British journalist working for the BBC. He has been the BBC's correspondent in Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and the Gaza Strip, and is currently the correspondent in Rome...
(born 1962), BBC correspondent - Albert Johnston, Australian rugby league footballer
- Albert Sidney JohnstonAlbert Sidney JohnstonAlbert Sidney Johnston served as a general in three different armies: the Texas Army, the United States Army, and the Confederate States Army...
(1803–1862), American soldier - Andrew Johnston (Australian actor), Actor
- Andrew Galbraith Johnston (died 1886), brewer of Oakbank, South AustraliaOakbank, South AustraliaOakbank is a town in the Adelaide Hills, east of Adelaide in South Australia. It is in the Adelaide Hills Council area. At the 2006 census, Oakbank had a population of 473.The town was founded in about 1840 by Scottish brothers James and Andrew Johnston...
- Arthur Johnston (poet) (1587–1641), Scottish physician and poet
- Arthur Johnston (fl. 1877), British bell maker with Gillett & JohnstonGillett & JohnstonGillett and Johnston is a clock and formerly bell manufacturing business in Croydon, England.-History:William Gillett started a clock making business on Union Road in Croydon, England in 1844. Charles Bland became a partner in 1854 and the company became known as Gillet and Bland. In 1877, Arthur...
- Arthur Johnston (composer)Arthur Johnston (composer)Arthur Johnston was a composer known for such works as “Mandy, Make Up Your Mind,” "Pennies From Heaven," and many others...
(1898–1954), American composer and songwriter - Arthur Lawson Johnston, 3rd Baron LukeArthur Lawson Johnston, 3rd Baron LukeArthur Charles St John Lawson Johnston, 3rd Baron Luke is a British peer and currently Opposition Spokesperson for Culture, Media and Sport and for Defence...
(born 1933), British peer - Arthur Johnston (politician)Arthur Johnston (politician)Arthur "Art" Johnston is a Canadian politician and current Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Calgary-Hays as a Progressive Conservative.-Early life:...
(born 1947), Canadian politician, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta - Arthur Dock JohnsonArthur Dock JohnsonArthur Dock Johnson is an American basketball player.A graduate of Pershing High School in Detroit, Johnson played four seasons at the University of Missouri before declaring for the 2004 NBA Draft...
(born 1982), basketball player - Ben JohnstonBen JohnstonBenjamin Burwell Johnston, Jr. is a composer of contemporary music in the just intonation system.-Johnston's music:...
, musical composer - Ben Johnston (rugby player)Ben Johnston (rugby player)Ben Johnston is an English rugby union footballer who plays at centre for Nottingham R.F.C. in the RFU Championship.Johnson started his professional career at Saracens in 1998...
, British rugby player - Bertie Johnston aka Edward Johnston (politician)
- Bill JohnstonBill JohnstonWilliam "Little Bill" Johnston was an American tennis champion. He was the co-World No. 1 player in 1919 and in 1922 respectively along with Gerald Patterson and Bill Tilden. He won the U.S...
, American tennis player - Brian JohnstonBrian JohnstonBrian Alexander Johnston CBE, MC was a cricket commentator and presenter for the BBC from 1946 until his death.-Early life and education:...
, broadcaster and cricket commentator - Brian Johnston (rugby league)Brian Johnston (rugby league)Brian Stuart Johnston is a former Australian rugby league player and administrator. He played with the St George Dragons and represented for the Australian national rugby league team on one occasion....
, Australian former rugby league player and administrator - Charles Clement JohnstonCharles Clement JohnstonCharles Clement Johnston was a U.S. Representative from Virginia.Born in Prince Edward County, Virginia, and educated at home, he moved with his parents to Panicello, near Abingdon, Virginia, in 1811. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1818 and commenced practice in Abingdon, Virginia...
, U.S. Representative from Virginia - Clyde M. JohnstonClyde M. JohnstonClyde M. Johnston was an American politician.Johnston served as the Wisconsin State Treasurer from October 1, 1948 until January 3, 1949. He was appointed from the staff of the state treasurer's office to fill a vacancy....
, American politician from Wisconsin - Daniel JohnstonDaniel JohnstonDaniel Dale Johnston is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and artist. Johnston was the subject of the 2006 documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston. He currently lives in Waller, Texas....
, musician - Darryl Johnston (born 1966), American football fullback, nicknamed "Moose"
- David Johnston (disambiguation)
- Denis JohnstonDenis JohnstonDenis Johnston was an Irish writer. He wrote mostly plays, but also works of literary criticism, a book-length biographical essay of Jonathan Swift, a memoir and an eccentric work of philosophy. He also worked as a war correspondent, and as both a radio and television producer for the BBC...
, Irish playwright - Dick JohnstonDick JohnstonRichard Frederick Johnston was a 19th century center fielder in Major League Baseball. He played eight seasons in the majors, for five different teams in three different leagues.-Sources:...
(1863 - 1984), American baseball player - Donald James Johnston, former Canadian politician and the Secretary General of the OECD
- Edward JohnstonEdward JohnstonEdward Johnston, CBE was a British-Uruguayan craftsman who is regarded, with Rudolf Koch, as the a father of modern calligraphy, in the form of the broad edged pen as a writing tool, a particular form of calligraphy....
, British teacher of calligraphy - Edward Johnston (artist)Edward Johnston (artist)Edward S. Johnston is an American new media artist and designer creating works involving animation, digital imaging, interactive media, and digitally fabricated objects...
, American artist and designer - Emma Verona JohnstonEmma Verona JohnstonEmma Verona Johnston née Calhoun was an American supercentenarian recognized as the "oldest living American" from May 2004 until her death at age 114 years 117 days. Verona was born in Indianola, Iowa as one of a large family...
, formerly oldest living American - Fergus JohnstonFergus JohnstonFergus Johnston is an Irish composer and member of Aosdána. He studied for both a degree in music and a Master's Degree in Music and Media Technology at Trinity College Dublin and has a PhD in composition from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth...
, an Irish composer - Francis Earl JohnstonFrancis Earl JohnstonBrigadier-General Francis Earl Johnston, C.B. was a New Zealand army officer of the First World War. He was commander of the 1st New Zealand Infantry Brigade in France.-Early life:...
, a Commander of 1st NZ Infantry Brigade, World War 1 - Gemma Johnston, an Australian novelist
- General Washington JohnstonGeneral Washington JohnstonGeneral Washington Johnston was born in Culpepper County, Virginia. General was his given name. Johnston migrated to Vincennes, Indiana General Washington Johnston (10 November 1776 – 26 October 1833) was born in Culpepper County, Virginia. General was his given name. Johnston migrated to...
(1776-1833), an American lawyer and politician - Gerald MacIntosh JohnstonGerald MacIntosh JohnstonActor Gerald MacIntosh Johnston , known professionally as Gerald Kent, was a Canadian Broadway stage and film actor who was captured at the Dieppe Raid during the Second World War and died in a German POW camp....
, a Canadian Broadway stage actor - Harold I. JohnstonHarold I. JohnstonHarold Irving Johnston was a soldier in the United States Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the World War I.-Biography:...
, an American Medal of Honor recipient - Harry JohnstonHarry JohnstonSir Henry "Harry" Hamilton Johnston, GCMG, KCB , was a British explorer, botanist, linguist and colonial administrator, one of the key players in the "Scramble for Africa" that occurred at the end of the 19th century....
, a British explorer and administrator - Harry Johnston (footballer)Harry Johnston (footballer)Henry "Harry" Johnston was an English footballer. He was the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year in 1951. He spent his entire professional playing career with Blackpool, with whom he appeared in three FA Cup Finals...
, an English footballer - Harry Johnston (surveyor)Harry Johnston (surveyor)Harry Frederick Johnston was Surveyor-General of Western Australia from 1896 to 1915.Harry Johnston was born in 1853, as a grandson of Marshall Clifton. He qualified as a surveyor. In 1884, he led a surveying expedition to the Kimberley region of Western Australia...
, a Surveyor-General of Western Australia - Hunter Johnston, American professional wrestler
- James JohnstonJames JohnstonJames Johnston may refer to:*James Johnston , Scottish Secretary of State*James William Johnston , Canadian politician and judge*James Finlay Weir Johnston , chemist...
, a Scottish International Rugby League Player - James Johnston (hotelier) (died 1891) prominent Oakbank, South AustraliaOakbank, South AustraliaOakbank is a town in the Adelaide Hills, east of Adelaide in South Australia. It is in the Adelaide Hills Council area. At the 2006 census, Oakbank had a population of 473.The town was founded in about 1840 by Scottish brothers James and Andrew Johnston...
identity - Jen Johnston (born 1954, J.Johnst.), an Australian lichenologist
- Jenifer JohnstonJenifer JohnstonJenifer Johnston born Gourock, Scotland.A Sunday Herald journalist between 2000 and 2007, nominated three times for Young Journalist of the Year at the Scottish Press Awards....
, a Scottish journalist - Jennifer JohnstonJennifer JohnstonJennifer Johnston is an Irish novelist, winner of the Whitbread Book Award for The Old Jest in 1979, and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1977...
, an Irish novelist - John S. JohnstonJohn S. JohnstonJohn S. Johnston was a late 19th-century maritime and landscape photographer. He is known for his photographs of racing yachts and New York City landmarks and cityscapes....
(c.1839-1899), an American maritime photographer - John W. JohnstonJohn W. JohnstonJohn Warfield Johnston was an American lawyer and politician from Abingdon, Virginia. He served in the Virginia State Senate, and represented Virginia in the United States Senate when the state was readmitted after the American Civil War...
(1818-1889), an American lawyer and politician - Joseph E. JohnstonJoseph E. JohnstonJoseph Eggleston Johnston was a career U.S. Army officer, serving with distinction in the Mexican-American War and Seminole Wars, and was also one of the most senior general officers in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
, a U.S. Army officer - Ken Johnston (journalist)Ken Johnston (journalist)Ken Johnston is a former journalist/broadcaster, now Deputy Head of Media Operations with the UK's Permanent Joint Headquarters. He reported widely during 'the troubles' in Northern Ireland as a reporter with The Belfast Telegraph and later as broadcaster with Downtown Radio and contributor to...
, a Deputy Head of Media Operations at Permanent Joint Headquarters (United Kingdom) - Larry Johnston (hockey player), a NHL ice hockey player
- Levi JohnstonLevi JohnstonLevi Keith Johnston is the former fiancé of Bristol Palin. He first received media attention in August 2008 when U.S. vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin announced that her daughter Bristol was five months pregnant with Johnston's baby and that the two were engaged...
, American male model and entertainer - Lynn JohnstonLynn JohnstonLynn Johnston, CM, OM is a Canadian cartoonist, well known for her comic strip For Better or For Worse, and was the first woman and first Canadian to win the National Cartoonist Society's Reuben Award.-Early life:...
, Canadian cartoonist - Max JohnstonMax JohnstonMax Johnston is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist best known for his work on fiddle, Dobro, banjo, and mandolin with the bands Uncle Tupelo, Wilco and more recently, The Gourds...
, multi-instrumentalist (Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, The Gourds) - Ollie JohnstonOllie JohnstonOliver Martin Johnston, Jr. was an American motion picture animator. He was one of Disney's Nine Old Men, and the last surviving at the time of his death. He was recognized by The Walt Disney Company with its Disney Legend Award in 1989...
, American pioneer of motion picture animation - Patrick Johnston (medieval courtier), producer of plays and probable lost fifteenth century Scottish poet
- Reginald JohnstonReginald JohnstonSir Reginald Fleming Johnston, KCMG, CBE, was a Scottish academic, diplomat and tutor to Puyi, the last emperor of China, and later appointed as the last Commissioner of Weihaiwei.-Early:...
, Scottish teacher of Pu Yi, the last Emperor of China - Rita JohnstonRita JohnstonRita Margaret Johnston was a politician in British Columbia, Canada. Johnston became the first female premier in Canadian history when she succeeded William Vander Zalm in 1991 to become the 29th Premier of British Columbia.Much of her early life was spent running a successful trailer park in the...
, Canadian politician - Robbie JohnstonRobbie JohnstonRobert Ian Johnston is a retired long-distance runner from New Zealand, who represented his native country twice in the men's 10.000 metres at the Summer Olympics, starting in 1992...
, New Zealand long-distance runner - Rod JohnstonRod JohnstonRod Johnston was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and Wisconsin State Senate.-Biography:Johnston was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and George Washington University Law School.-Career:...
,(Born 1974) Scottish Radio Presenter - Ron JohnstonRon JohnstonRon Johnston in Dunedin, New Zealand is a former speedway rider who rode for the Belle Vue Aces. He also rode in four World Finals during his career finishing a best 5th in 1960.-Career:...
, New Zealand speedway rider - Ron J. JohnstonRon J. JohnstonRonald John Johnston, OBE, AcSS, FBA is a British human geographer, noted for elaborating his discipline's foundations, particularly its history and nature, and for his contributions to urban social geography and electoral geography...
, British geographer - Samuel JohnstonSamuel JohnstonSamuel Johnston was an American planter, lawyer, and statesman from Chowan County, North Carolina. He represented North Carolina in both the Continental Congress and the United States Senate, and was the sixth Governor of North Carolina.-Early Life and Revolutionary Politics:Johnston was born in...
, Governor of North Carolina and Continental Congress delegate - Sam Johnston (wrestler), American professional wrestler
- Stiven De JohnstonStiven De Johnston- Life :Although Stiven de Johnstons date of birth and date of death were never recorded, he lived during the reign of King David II meaning that he was alive between 1331 and 1368. Johnston lived in Aberdeenshire, Scotland during this time...
, 14th Century Founder of the Scottish Hilton Clan - Tom JohnstonThomas JohnstonThomas "Tom" Johnston CH was a prominent Scottish socialist and politician of the early 20th century, a member of the Labour Party, a Member of Parliament and government minister – usually with Cabinet responsibility for Scottish affairs.-Red Clydesider:Johnston, the son of a middle-class...
, Scottish socialist politician - Tommy JohnstonTommy JohnstonThomas Bourhill "Tommy" Johnston was a Scottish-born footballer.Johnston was the top scorer of Division 2 for the 1957–58 season with 43 goals for Leyton Orient and Blackburn Rovers....
, Scottish footballer - Willie JohnstonWillie JohnstonWilliam McClure "Willie" Johnston is a Scottish former professional football player, best remembered for his time at Rangers and West Brom.-Career:...
, Scottish footballer - Zoe JohnstonZoe JohnstonZoë Johnston is a British singer-songwriter , who grew up in Nottinghamshire. Johnston is best known for her vocal contributions to Faithless, Above & Beyond, Bent, and Delerium.-Early career:...
, British singer-songwriter
See also
- JohnstoneJohnstone (surname)Johnstone is a surname. It is a variant of the similar surname Johnston which in most cases is a habitational surname derived from several places in Scotland. However, it can also be a variant of the surname Johnson.-Etymology:...
, similar surname - Clan JohnstoneClan Johnstone-Origin of the name:Clan Johnstone is a Lowland Scottish clan. They were involved in many battles on the Scottish borders.Johnstone comes from "John's toun", not "John's stone" or "John's son." Historically, "Johnston" has been an alternate spelling of the surname...
, a Scottish clan