Johnston

Johnston is a Scottish surname derived from the name of a town in Dumfriesshire, meaning "John's town". The surname is a habitation name, indicating that the original bearer came from that location. The town's name is composed of the personal name John and the Old English suffix -tūn meaning "settlement" or "town". Johnston is also an English surname, a variant of Johnson, though that is more common in the north of England.

Geographic Distribution

The surname Johnston is most common in Scotland, where it ranks among the top surnames. It is also found in Northern Ireland, England, and other English-speaking countries. Within the United States, it is particularly prevalent in the southern states, reflecting patterns of Scottish immigration.

Notable Bearers

Notable individuals with the surname Johnston include:

• Joe Johnston (born 1950), American film director known for Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and The Rocketeer.
• Mary Johnston (1870–1936), American novelist known for her historical works.
• Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–1973), 36th President of the United States, had the middle name Baines, but his birth name was Lyndon Baines Johnson – not Johnston, but note similarity.