Johnston

Meaning of Johnston

Johnston is an Anglo-Scottish surname-turned masculine given name, originally signifying “son of John,” with John derived from the Hebrew Yohanan, meaning “God is gracious.” It emerged in medieval England and Scotland—notably the barony of Johnston in Annandale—and represents a patronymic formation combining the root John with the suffix “-son.” In U.S. usage, Johnston has maintained a stable rank between 800 and 930 over the past decade, according to Social Security Administration data, reflecting its rare but persistent appeal rather than a trend-driven surge. Phonetically, it is pronounced JAHN-stuhn (English /ˈdʒɑn.stən/, /ˈdʒɒn.stən/). Its technical morphology and historical associations lend it a precise, heritage-oriented character for families seeking a name grounded in tradition.