NameCensus.

UK surname

John

An English surname derived from the given name John, originally meaning "Yahweh has been gracious."

In the 1881 census there were 10,815 people recorded with the John surname, ranking it #395 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 19,683, ranked #304, up from #395 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Merthyr Tydfil and Llangafelach. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for John is 19,683 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 82.0%.

1881 census count

10,815

Ranked #395

Modern count

19,683

2016, ranked #304

Peak year

2016

19,683 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • John had 10,815 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #395 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 19,683 in 2016, ranked #304.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 14,747 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

John surname distribution map

The map shows where the John surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

John surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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John over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 9,177 #288
1861 historical 10,575 #239
1881 historical 10,815 #395
1891 historical 12,630 #349
1901 historical 12,763 #410
1911 historical 14,747 #334
1997 modern 15,300 #399
1998 modern 15,811 #401
1999 modern 15,960 #400
2000 modern 15,901 #398
2001 modern 15,358 #401
2002 modern 15,822 #398
2003 modern 15,530 #392
2004 modern 15,838 #386
2005 modern 16,097 #370
2006 modern 16,436 #364
2007 modern 16,798 #355
2008 modern 17,030 #351
2009 modern 17,736 #342
2010 modern 18,412 #331
2011 modern 18,334 #328
2012 modern 18,474 #321
2013 modern 18,980 #321
2014 modern 19,338 #316
2015 modern 19,349 #310
2016 modern 19,683 #304

Geography

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Where Johns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Merthyr Tydfil, Llangafelach, Aberdare and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire
3 Llangafelach Glamorganshire
4 Aberdare Glamorganshire
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carmarthenshire 027 Carmarthenshire
2 Pembrokeshire 005 Pembrokeshire
3 Pembrokeshire 003 Pembrokeshire
4 Pembrokeshire 006 Pembrokeshire
5 Pembrokeshire 013 Pembrokeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with John

These lists show first names that appear often with the John surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for John

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For John, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the John surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every John household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, John is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

John is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

John falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for John is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with John, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of John

The surname John is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is derived from the personal name John, which itself is derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious." The surname likely originated as a patronymic, indicating "son of John."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname John is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. Several individuals with the surname John are listed in this historical record.

In the 12th century, the surname John appeared in various forms, such as Jon, Jone, and Johnes, reflecting the evolving spelling conventions of the time. These variations persisted until the 16th century when the modern spelling of John became more standardized.

Notable individuals with the surname John throughout history include Roger John (c. 1170-1239), a medieval English theologian and philosopher who served as Bishop of Norwich. Another prominent figure was Sir William John (c. 1330-1407), an English military commander who fought in the Hundred Years' War and was knighted for his service.

During the Tudor period, the surname John was associated with several notable figures, including John Leland (c. 1506-1552), an English antiquarian and scholar who played a significant role in preserving historical manuscripts and records. Sir John Hawkins (1532-1595) was an English naval commander and slave trader who played a pivotal role in the early English exploration of the West Indies and the Spanish Main.

In the 17th century, Samuel John (1630-1698) was an English Baptist minister and theologian who made significant contributions to the development of Baptist theology. During the same period, Sir John Vanbrugh (1664-1726) gained recognition as an English architect, dramatist, and principal deputy governor of the Royal African Company, which held a monopoly on the English slave trade.

The 18th century saw the rise of John Wesley (1703-1791), the renowned Anglican cleric and theologian who played a pivotal role in the Methodist movement. John Wilkes (1725-1797) was a British radical, journalist, and politician who championed the rights of free speech and was a key figure in the Wilkes riots of the 1760s.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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John families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the John surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Glamorgan leads with 5,867 Johns recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.90x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 5,867 31.90x
Pembrokeshire 2,418 72.02x
Carmarthenshire 1,300 29.20x
Monmouthshire 278 3.64x
Middlesex 161 0.15x
Lancashire 110 0.09x
Cornwall 82 0.69x
Yorkshire 68 0.07x
Durham 52 0.17x
Surrey 46 0.09x
Gloucestershire 30 0.14x
Hampshire 28 0.13x
Staffordshire 27 0.08x
Brecknockshire 26 1.23x
Midlothian 26 0.18x
Devon 25 0.11x
Kent 25 0.07x
Cardiganshire 23 0.89x
Cheshire 22 0.09x
Warwickshire 19 0.07x
Essex 14 0.07x
Northumberland 14 0.09x
Somerset 14 0.08x
Sussex 13 0.07x
Royal Navy 11 0.87x
Worcestershire 11 0.08x
Lanarkshire 10 0.03x
Cumberland 9 0.10x
Derbyshire 9 0.05x
Flintshire 8 0.28x
Wiltshire 8 0.09x
Herefordshire 7 0.16x
Buckinghamshire 6 0.09x
Denbighshire 6 0.15x
Channel Islands 5 0.16x
Montgomeryshire 5 0.21x
Shropshire 5 0.05x
Norfolk 4 0.02x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.07x
Kirkcudbrightshire 3 0.20x
Lincolnshire 3 0.02x
Renfrewshire 3 0.04x
Berkshire 2 0.03x
Dorset 2 0.03x
Northamptonshire 2 0.02x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.01x
Peeblesshire 2 0.40x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.01x
Banffshire 1 0.05x
Bedfordshire 1 0.02x
Caithness 1 0.07x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.04x
Fife 1 0.02x
Hertfordshire 1 0.01x
Inverness-shire 1 0.03x
Isle of Man 1 0.05x
Leicestershire 1 0.01x
Merionethshire 1 0.05x
Radnorshire 1 0.12x
West Lothian 1 0.06x
Westmorland 1 0.04x
Wigtownshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clase in Glamorgan leads with 577 Johns recorded in 1881 and an index of 84.37x.

Place Total Index
Clase 577 84.37x
Ystradyfodwg 471 29.19x
Llanelly 382 38.09x
Llantrisant 330 71.18x
Aberdare 300 23.76x
Merthyr Tydfil 282 15.95x
Pembrey 196 95.73x
Llanwonno 194 29.35x
Pembroke St Mary 157 36.31x
Cardiff St Mary 148 14.61x
Eglwysilan 141 44.18x
Swansea Town 136 9.02x
Roath 133 15.92x
Briton Ferry 127 57.87x
Llantwit Vairdre 124 59.98x
Llandaff 122 19.94x
Cardiff St John 113 18.81x
Cwmdu 108 48.20x
St John Near Swansea 106 46.61x
Steynton 103 94.91x
Loughor 100 102.39x
Michaelstone Super Avon 97 48.71x
Pentyrch 90 118.47x
Llangyfelach 85 123.40x
Llansamlet Lower 82 49.24x
Margam 82 39.97x
Llangynwyd Higher 81 91.69x
St Davids 79 103.99x
Laugharne 77 130.49x
Bedwellty 75 5.56x
Swansea Higher 74 38.63x
Llangennech 65 91.15x
Tythegston Higher 64 114.63x
Aberavon 63 37.22x
Haverfordwest St Thomas 63 93.78x
Llanstadwell 63 57.42x
Monachlogddu 59 339.28x
Llanboidy 58 103.61x
Newcastle Higher 58 46.44x
Tenby St Mary In 58 33.94x
Laleston 56 287.92x
Amroth 55 207.23x
Bettws 55 155.54x
Llanwnda 55 151.52x
Carew 53 158.11x
St Issells 53 74.67x
Haverfordwest St Mary 51 105.72x
Llanguick 51 15.48x
Llansamlet Higher 51 37.16x
Narberth North 51 85.37x
Gelligaer 47 11.19x
Fishguard 46 63.23x
Neath 46 12.29x
Cowbridge 45 101.42x
Llandyfodwg 45 43.15x
Roch 43 221.88x
Llanrhidian Higher 42 35.95x
Llanstephan 41 93.16x
Pyle 41 120.87x
Rhyndwyclydach 41 32.13x
Swansea St Thomas 39 21.11x
St Dogmells 38 42.60x
Blaenhonddan 37 43.21x
Llanrian 37 124.16x
Llantwit Major 37 103.15x
Llangan East 36 173.16x
Llangeinor 36 33.24x
St Pancras London 36 0.42x
Wiston 36 138.46x
Coyty Lower 35 29.31x
Haverfordwest St Martin 35 56.28x
Llanfihangel Abercowin 35 118.93x
St Brides Major 35 142.33x
Whitchurch 35 115.78x
Glyncorrwg 34 73.01x
Camrose 33 102.90x
Henrys Moat 33 270.71x
Llandilo Talybont 33 34.17x
Newton Nottage 33 65.37x
Prendergast 33 64.31x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the John surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 1,058
Elizabeth 530
Margaret 410
Ann 358
Sarah 339
Martha 234
Catherine 185
Jane 183
Hannah 138
Anne 136
Eliza 84
Rachel 77
Annie 57
Maria 57
Alice 55
Emily 49
Ellen 45
Esther 45
Margret 43
Ruth 40
Emma 37
Harriet 37
Caroline 31
Frances 30
Phoebe 27
Charlotte 26
Eleanor 26
Phebe 26
Edith 25
Gwenllian 25
Sophia 22
Anna 21
Dinah 20
Louisa 19
Agnes 18
Ada 17
Lydia 17
Margt. 17
Rebecca 17
Jennet 16
Elizth. 15
Susannah 15
Lucy 14
Lettice 13
Lizzie 12
Miriam 12
Susan 12
Florence 11
Jemima 11
Kate 11

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the John surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 907
Thomas 714
David 586
John 585
James 235
Evan 135
Henry 134
Daniel 112
Richard 107
George 101
Edward 93
Benjamin 92
Joseph 74
Lewis 63
Robert 55
Samuel 55
Rees 52
Wm. 51
Charles 49
Morgan 49
Alfred 37
Isaac 35
Griffith 33
Arthur 31
Edwin 31
Thos. 31
Jenkin 27
Frederick 25
Francis 24
Phillip 21
Stephen 21
Walter 21
Albert 19
Llewellyn 19
Howell 17
Levi 17
Owen 17
Christopher 13
Gomer 13
Morris 13
Caleb 12
Jonah 12
Philip 12
Ebenezer 11
Herbert 11
Elias 10
Ernest 10
Ivor 10
Noah 10
Oliver 10

FAQ

John surname: questions and answers

How common was the John surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10,815 people were recorded with the John surname. That placed it at #395 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the John surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 19,683 in 2016. That gives John a modern rank of #304.

What does the John surname mean?

An English surname derived from the given name John, originally meaning "Yahweh has been gracious."

What does the John map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of John bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.