Johnston is in most cases a habitational surname derived from several places in

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...

. Historically, the surname has been most common throughout Scotland and

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

Etymology

This surname is derived from the genitive case of the

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a ...

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Secon ...

'' and ''tone'' or ''toun'' (" settlement" in

Middle English Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English ...

, literally meaning "John's town".

People with the surname ''Johnston''

A–E

Alan Johnston Alan Graham Johnston (born 17 May 1962) is a British journalist working for the BBC. He has been the BBC's correspondent in Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, the Gaza Strip and Italy. He is based in London. Johnston was kidnapped in the Gaza Strip on ...

(born 1962), BBC correspondent * Albert Johnston (rugby league) (1891–1961), Australian rugby league footballer *

Albert Sidney Johnston Albert Sidney Johnston (February 2, 1803 – April 6, 1862) served as a general in three different armies: the Texian Army, the United States Army, and the Confederate States Army. He saw extensive combat during his 34-year military career, figh ...

(1803–1862), Texian, American, and Confederate general * Alexander Johnston (disambiguation), several people * Andrew Johnston (disambiguation), several people * Andrew Galbraith Johnston (died 1886), brewer of Oakbank, South Australia * Anthony Johnston (disambiguation), several people * Arnrid Johnston (1895-1972), Swedish sculptor and illustrator * Arthur Johnston (poet) (1587–1641), Scottish physician and poet * Arthur Johnston ('' fl.'' 1877), British bell maker with

Gillett & Johnston Gillett & Johnston was a clockmaker and bell foundry based in Croydon, England from 1844 until 1957. Between 1844 and 1950, over 14,000 tower clocks were made at the works. The company's most successful and prominent period of activity as a be ...

Arthur Johnston (composer) Arthur James Johnston (January 10, 1898 – May 1, 1954) was an American composer, conductor, pianist and arranger. Life and career Born in New York City, he began playing piano in movie houses, and went to work for Fred Fisher's music publ ...

(1898–1954), American composer and songwriter *

Arthur Lawson Johnston, 3rd Baron Luke Arthur Charles St John Lawson Johnston, 3rd Baron Luke KStJ (13 January 1933 – 2 October 2015) was a British peer. He was one of the ninety hereditary peers elected to remain in the House of Lords after the passing of the House of Lords Act 199 ...

(born 1933), British peer * Arthur Johnston (politician) (born 1947), Canadian politician, member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta * Ben Johnston (disambiguation) * Bertie Johnston aka Edward Johnston (politician) * Bill Johnston (disambiguation) * Bob Johnston (disambiguation), several people * Brian Johnston, broadcaster and cricket commentator * Brian Johnston (rugby league), Australian former professional rugby league footballer and administrator * Cameron Johnston (American football), Australian-born American football punter * Charles Johnston (disambiguation), several people, including * Christina Johnston (born 1987), British operatic soprano * Clay Johnston (disambiguation), several people, including ** Clay Johnston (academic), American medical academic ** Clay Johnston (American football), American football linebacker * Clyde M. Johnston, American politician from Wisconsin *

Dale Johnston (curler) Dale R. Johnston is a Canadian curler. He is a and a . Teams References External links * Dale Johnston – Curling Canada Stats Archive Living people Canadian male curlers Curlers from Alberta Brier champions Year of birth missing ...

, Canadian curler *

Daniel Johnston Daniel Dale Johnston (January 22, 1961 – September 11, 2019) was an American singer, musician and artist regarded as a significant figure in outsider, lo-fi, and alternative music scenes. Most of his work consisted of cassettes recorded a ...

(1961–2019), musician *

Daryl Johnston Daryl Peter "Moose" Johnston (born February 10, 1966) is a former fullback in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Syracuse University. He was the General Manager of the San Antonio Commanders of ...

(born 1966), American football fullback, nicknamed "Moose" * David Johnston (disambiguation) * Denis Johnston (1901–1984), Irish playwright * Dick Johnston (1863–1984), American baseball player * Donald James Johnston, former Canadian politician and the Secretary General of the OECD * Edward Johnston (disambiguation), several people, including * Elmer E. Johnston (1898–1985), American politician

F–L

Fergus Johnston Fergus Johnston (born 21 May 1959) is an Irish composer and member of Aosdána. Life and career Johnston was born in Dublin, the son of the physicist and political activist Roy Johnston, Roy H. W. Johnston, and studied for both a degree in music ...

(born 1959), Irish composer * Francis Earl Johnston, commander of 1st NZ Infantry Brigade, World War 1 * General Washington Johnston (1776–1833), an American lawyer and politician * George Johnston (disambiguation), several people, including: **

George Johnston (burgess) George Johnston (September 3, 1702 – August 29, 1766) was a lawyer in Fairfax County, Virginia, while it was a British colony. He was twice elected to the House of Burgesses, in the assemblies of 1758-61 and 1761–65. On May 30, 1765, Johnston ...

(1700–1766), American lawyer and politician ** George Johnston (British Marines officer) (1764–1823), leader of the Rum rebellion ** George Johnston (naturalist) (1797—1855), Scottish surgeon and naturalist **

George Johnston (novelist) George Henry Johnston OBE (20 July 191222 July 1970) was an Australian journalist, war correspondent and novelist, best known for ''My Brother Jack''. He was the husband and literary collaborator of Charmian Clift. Life George Henry Johnston ...

, Australian journalist and novelist ** George Johnston (politician), Canadian politician ** George Johnston (general), Australian general in World War 1, member of the Fitzroy City Council ** George Johnston (engineer), designer of Scotland's first motorcar, co-founder of Arrol-Johnston Car Company ** George Johnston (ice hockey), former National Hockey League player ** George Johnston (footballer, born 1947), former Scottish footballer ** George Benson Johnston (1913–2004), Canadian poet **

George Doherty Johnston George Doherty Johnston (May 30, 1832 – December 8, 1910) was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Early life George Doherty Johnston was born in Hillsborough, North Carolina. In 1834, his fath ...

(1832–1910), American general and politician *

Gerald MacIntosh Johnston Gerald MacIntosh Johnston (1 October 1904 – 5 November 1944), 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. Early ...

, a Canadian Broadway stage actor * Greg Johnston (rower) (born 1959), former New Zealand rover * Harold I. Johnston, American Medal of Honor recipient * Harry Johnston (disambiguation), several people, including: **

Harry Johnston Sir Henry Hamilton Johnston (12 June 1858 – 31 July 1927), known as Harry Johnston, was a British explorer, botanist, artist, colonial administrator, and linguist who travelled widely in Africa and spoke many African languages. He publishe ...

, British explorer and administrator **

Harry Johnston (footballer, born 1919) Henry Johnston (26 September 1919 – 12 October 1973) 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 ...

, English international footballer **

Harry Johnston (surveyor) Harry Frederick Johnston (1853 – June 1915) was Surveyor-General of Western Australia from 1896 to 1915. Harry Johnston was born in 1853, as a grandson of Marshall Waller Clifton. He qualified as a surveyor. In 1884, he led a surveying expedit ...

, surveyor-general of Western Australia * Hunter Johnston (born 1980), American professional wrestler, known as Delirious * Isabel Marion Weir Johnston, pioneering woman student *

Ivan Murray Johnston I. M. (Ivan Murray) Johnston (February 28, 1898–May 31, 1960), was a United States botanist. He studied at Pomona College in Claremont, California and at Harvard University. His plant collections are housed in the '' Rancho Santa Ana Botanic ...

(1898–1960), American botanist * James Johnston (disambiguation) * Jenifer Johnston, Scottish journalist * Jennifer Johnston (disambiguation) * Jerry Johnston (born 1959), American clergyman *

Joe Johnston Joseph Eggleston Johnston II (born May 13, 1950) is an American film director, producer, writer, and visual effects artist. He is best known for directing effects-driven films, including ''Honey, I Shrunk the Kids'' (1989), ''Jumanji'' (1995 ...

(born 1950), American film director * John S. Johnston (c.1839–1899), American maritime photographer * John W. Johnston (1818–1889), American lawyer and politician *

Joseph E. Johnston Joseph Eggleston Johnston (February 3, 1807 – March 21, 1891) was an American career army officer, serving with distinction in the United States Army during the Mexican–American War (1846–1848) and the Seminole Wars. After Virginia secede ...

, American and Confederate general *

Julanne Johnston Julanne Johnston (May 1, 1900 – December 26, 1988) was an American silent film actress. Biography Johnston was born and educated in Indianapolis, Indiana, then her family moved to Hollywood. There she took dancing lessons at the Denishawn S ...

(1900-1988), American actress * Julie Johnston (born 1992), maiden name of American soccer player Julie Ertz * Ken Johnston (journalist), deputy head of media operations at Permanent Joint Headquarters (UK) * Kristen Johnston, American actress *

Larry Johnston Larry Stuart Roy Johnston (born July 20, 1943) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played for over 14 years in seven different hockey leagues. He spent the most time with the Springfield Indians/Kings of the American Hoc ...

, NHL ice hockey player * Levi Johnston, American model and entertainer * Luke Johnston (born 1993), Scottish footballer *

Lynn Johnston Lynn Johnston (born May 28, 1947) is a Canadian cartoonist and author, best known for her newspaper comic strip '' For Better or For Worse''. She was the first woman and first Canadian to win the National Cartoonist Society's Reuben Award. Ea ...

, Canadian cartoonist

M–Z

* Maria I. Johnston, American author and editor *

Mary Johnston Mary Johnston (November 21, 1870 – May 9, 1936) was an American novelist and women's rights advocate from Virginia. She was one of America's best selling authors during her writing career and had three silent films adapted from her novels. Jo ...

, American novelist and women's rights advocate * Matt Johnston, American television and film producer * Max Johnston (disambiguation), several people, including: ** Max Johnston (footballer) (born 2003), Scottish footballer **

Max Johnston (musician) Max 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. Johnston is the younger brother of singer-songwriter Michel ...

, multi-instrumentalist (Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, the Gourds) ** Max Johnston (racing driver) (born 1993), Australian stock car racing driver * Means Johnston Jr. (1916–1989), United States Navy admiral * Michael Johnston (disambiguation), several people * Naazmi Johnston (born 1988), Australian Olympic gymnast *

Ollie Johnston Oliver Martin Johnston Jr. (October 31, 1912 – April 14, 2008) 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 from natural causes. He was recognized by The Wal ...

, American pioneer of motion picture animation * Patrick Johnston (medieval courtier), producer of plays, probable lost 15th-century Scottish poet *

Reginald Johnston Sir Reginald Fleming Johnston, ( zh, s=庄士敦爵士, p=Zhuāngshìdūn juéshì, "Sir Johnston"; 13 October 1874 – 6 March 1938) was a British diplomat who served as the tutor and advisor to Puyi, the last Emperor of China. He was also the ...

, Scottish teacher of Pu Yi, the last Emperor of China * Richard F. Johnston, American ornithologist, academic and author *

Rita Johnston Rita Margaret Johnston (born April 22, 1935; née Leichert) is a Canadian politician in British Columbia. Johnston became the first female premier in Canadian history when she succeeded Bill Vander Zalm in 1991 to become the 29th premier of Brit ...

, Canadian politician * Robert Johnston (disambiguation), several people *

Rod Johnston Rodney Kohler "Rod" Johnston (September 2, 1937March 30, 2018) was an American attorney and Republican politician. He served six years in the Wisconsin State Senate (1979–1985) after four years in the State Assembly (1975–1979), repre ...

(born 1974), Scottish radio presenter * Ron Johnston, New Zealand speedway rider * Ron J. Johnston, British geographer * Roger Johnston (1930–2020), Australian politician * Roger Johnston (musician) (?–2004), American drummer and founding member of the rock bank ''

The Monks The Monks, referred to by the name monks on record sleeves, were an American garage rock band formed in Gelnhausen, West Germany in 1964. Assembled by five American GIs stationed in the country, the group grew tired of the traditional format ...

'' * Samuel Johnston (disambiguation), several people, including **

Samuel Johnston Samuel Johnston (December 15, 1733 – August 17, 1816) was an American planter, lawyer, and statesman from Chowan County, North Carolina, Chowan County, North Carolina. He represented North Carolina in both the Continental Congress and the Un ...

, governor of North Carolina and Continental Congress delegate ** Sam Johnston (wrestler), American professional wrestler * Sarah Johnston (born 1982), birth name of Australian politician Sarah Mitchell *Sex W. Johnston, pseudonym of Irish poet John W. Sexton * Stiven De Johnston, 14th-century founder of the Scottish Hilton Clan * Sue Johnston, English actress * Suzanne Johnston (born 1958), Australian operatic mezzo-soprano * Tarik "Rvssian" Johnston, Jamaican music producer * Teri Johnston, American politician and first openly lesbian woman to be elected as a Florida mayor * Terry D. Johnston (born 1947), American politician and businesswoman * Tom Johnston (disambiguation) *

Trent Johnston David Trent Johnston (born 29 April 1974) is an Irish-Australian cricket coach and former player. He was born in Wollongong, New South Wales, and played his early cricket for New South Wales in Australian domestic competitions. A right-handed ba ...

(born 1974), Irish cricketer * Willie Johnston, Scottish footballer *

Zoë Johnston Zoë Johnston is a Grammy-nominated British singer, songwriter and artist, born in Nottingham, England c.1976. She has written and recorded songs with a number of bands including Faithless, Above & Beyond, Bent, and Delerium, and also with for ...

, British singer-songwriter

Etymology

People with the surname ''Johnston''

A–E

F–L

M–Z

See also