Johnston

Johnston is a surname of Scottish and English origin. It is a toponymic name derived from the given name John combined with a place-name element such as tun or town, effectively meaning the town or settlement of John. The name arose in medieval Scotland and northern England and spread to other English-speaking regions through migration and settlement.

Johnston also designates several places. In the United States there are towns and counties named Johnston, and Johnston Atoll in the central Pacific Ocean is a U.S. possession that played a military and logistics role in the 20th century. A town named Johnston exists in Rhode Island. The name appears in other countries as well, reflecting its toponymic origin.

As a surname, Johnston is common in the Anglophone world. It is borne by many individuals in public life, academia, and culture, across multiple generations and regions. The name appears in various professions and contexts, reflecting its broad geographic distribution.

Variations of the name include Johnstone, which has a closely related origin and can be found in several countries as both a surname and place name. The Johnston form is widely recognized in English-speaking regions and often appears in historical and contemporary records.