NameCensus.

UK surname

Johns

An English patronymic surname meaning "son of John."

In the 1881 census there were 7,655 people recorded with the Johns surname, ranking it #556 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10,472, ranked #619, down from #556 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Redruth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and Torridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Johns is 10,585 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.8%.

1881 census count

7,655

Ranked #556

Modern count

10,472

2016, ranked #619

Peak year

2014

10,585 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Johns had 7,655 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #556 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 10,472 in 2016, ranked #619.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10,209 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Johns surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Johns surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Johns 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 5,198 #530
1861 historical 5,811 #469
1881 historical 7,655 #556
1891 historical 8,050 #546
1901 historical 9,312 #562
1911 historical 10,209 #483
1997 modern 9,963 #624
1998 modern 10,433 #614
1999 modern 10,487 #616
2000 modern 10,348 #621
2001 modern 10,095 #623
2002 modern 10,378 #620
2003 modern 10,100 #623
2004 modern 10,122 #622
2005 modern 9,917 #627
2006 modern 9,881 #630
2007 modern 9,908 #634
2008 modern 9,966 #636
2009 modern 10,261 #633
2010 modern 10,414 #634
2011 modern 10,313 #632
2012 modern 10,248 #626
2013 modern 10,514 #622
2014 modern 10,585 #620
2015 modern 10,471 #619
2016 modern 10,472 #619

Geography

Back to top

Where Johns' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Redruth and Wendron. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and Torridge. 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 London parishes London 1
3 Redruth Cornwall
4 London parishes London 3
5 Wendron Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 071 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 057 Cornwall
3 Torridge 005 Torridge
4 Cornwall 052 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 024 Cornwall

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Johns

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Johns

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Johns, 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 Johns surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Johns 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Johns is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Johns is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Johns falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Johns 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 Johns, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Johns

The surname JOHNS has its origins in England and dates back to the medieval period. It is a patronymic surname, derived from the personal name John, which itself comes from the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious."

The earliest recorded instances of the surname JOHNS can be found in various medieval records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Johnes." It is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327 as "Johannes."

In the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname was often rendered as "John" or "Jon," with the possessive "s" added later to indicate the person was the son of someone named John. This practice was common in English naming traditions during that time.

The surname JOHNS is closely associated with several place names in England, such as Johns Hill in Worcestershire and Johns Green in Essex. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the surname JOHNS who lived or owned land in those areas.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname JOHNS was Sir Thomas JOHNS (c. 1500-1559), a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas during the reign of Queen Mary I.

Another individual of note was Giles JOHNS (c. 1550-1608), an English composer and musician who served as a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal under Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the surname JOHNS appeared in various records, including the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1664, where it was spelled as "Johnes" and "Johnns."

During the 18th century, the name JOHNS gained further prominence with individuals such as William JOHNS (1700-1760), a renowned English painter and engraver known for his landscape paintings and etchings.

In the 19th century, one of the most famous bearers of the surname JOHNS was Gwyn JOHNS (1822-1899), a Welsh architect and engineer who designed several notable landmarks, including the Menai Suspension Bridge in Wales.

Throughout its long history, the surname JOHNS has been associated with various professions and areas of expertise, from law and the arts to architecture and engineering, reflecting the diverse contributions of those who have borne this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Johns families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Johns 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. Cornwall leads with 2,243 Johns' recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.26x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 2,243 26.26x
Devon 1,174 7.48x
Glamorgan 643 4.90x
Middlesex 598 0.79x
Surrey 337 0.92x
Pembrokeshire 266 11.10x
Lancashire 261 0.29x
Monmouthshire 233 4.27x
Gloucestershire 209 1.41x
Somerset 166 1.37x
Hampshire 155 1.00x
Kent 117 0.45x
Carmarthenshire 113 3.55x
Staffordshire 109 0.43x
Worcestershire 109 1.11x
Essex 101 0.68x
Yorkshire 87 0.12x
Warwickshire 74 0.39x
Durham 62 0.28x
Sussex 52 0.41x
Cheshire 42 0.25x
Channel Islands 41 1.83x
Nottinghamshire 39 0.38x
Herefordshire 36 1.16x
Norfolk 34 0.29x
Derbyshire 31 0.26x
Cumberland 29 0.45x
Wiltshire 29 0.43x
Berkshire 27 0.48x
Dorset 26 0.53x
Northumberland 26 0.23x
Brecknockshire 25 1.66x
Leicestershire 23 0.28x
Royal Navy 23 2.56x
Lincolnshire 19 0.16x
Midlothian 13 0.13x
Westmorland 13 0.78x
Lanarkshire 12 0.05x
Rutland 12 2.17x
Buckinghamshire 11 0.24x
Oxfordshire 10 0.21x
Shropshire 10 0.15x
Hertfordshire 9 0.17x
Anglesey 8 0.60x
Suffolk 8 0.09x
Isle of Man 7 0.50x
Kirkcudbrightshire 6 0.55x
Renfrewshire 6 0.10x
Flintshire 5 0.25x
Radnorshire 5 0.82x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.08x
Denbighshire 4 0.14x
Bedfordshire 3 0.08x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.10x
Cardiganshire 3 0.16x
Montgomeryshire 3 0.17x
Northamptonshire 3 0.04x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.10x
Inverness-shire 2 0.09x
Merionethshire 2 0.14x
Morayshire 2 0.17x
Wigtownshire 2 0.20x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.01x
Angus 1 0.01x
Ayrshire 1 0.02x
Berwickshire 1 0.11x
Caithness 1 0.10x
Nairnshire 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Redruth in Cornwall leads with 160 Johns' recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.23x.

Place Total Index
Redruth 160 66.23x
Stoke Damerel 152 13.83x
Swansea Town 150 13.93x
Wendron 112 94.46x
Camborne 109 30.97x
Plymouth St Andrew 93 7.69x
Ludgvan 78 114.59x
Islington London 77 1.05x
Plymouth Charles The 77 11.13x
Lambeth 74 1.13x
Veryan 74 223.70x
Portsea 72 2.38x
Breage 71 91.07x
Paul 71 45.76x
Mylor 68 118.84x
Bedminster 63 5.52x
St Pancras London 57 0.94x
Madron Penzance 55 17.71x
Great Torrington 50 56.16x
St Just In Penwith 49 29.57x
Bideford 46 27.35x
Illogan 46 20.34x
Pembroke St Mary 46 14.90x
Kenwyn 44 19.70x
Calstock 43 25.67x
Clase 43 8.80x
Falmouth 43 14.22x
Bedwellty 42 4.36x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 42 3.02x
Cardiff St Mary 42 5.81x
Helston 42 47.31x
Kensington London 42 1.00x
St Stithians 42 89.23x
St Austell 40 13.70x
Germoe 38 250.66x
Gwinear 38 93.80x
Paddington London 37 1.33x
Chelsea London 36 1.58x
Newington 36 1.29x
St Marylebone London 36 0.89x
Langtree 34 178.95x
Aberdare 33 3.66x
Bradworthy 33 144.10x
Cardiff St John 33 7.69x
St Winnow 33 112.90x
Birmingham 32 0.50x
St Woollos 32 5.26x
Ruan Minor 31 411.14x
Sithney 29 33.60x
Walsall Foreign 29 2.20x
St Hilary Marazion 28 120.64x
Ystradyfodwg 28 2.43x
Camberwell 27 0.56x
Liverpool 27 0.50x
Newport 27 10.38x
Phillack 27 24.49x
Steynton 27 34.84x
Stoke Upon Trent 27 1.00x
Truro St Mary 26 36.23x
West Ham 26 0.79x
Barrow In Furness 25 2.05x
Battersea 25 0.90x
Bengeworth 25 73.75x
Carmarthen St Peter 25 9.20x
Uny Lelant 25 54.15x
Westbury On Trym 25 4.99x
Exeter St Sidwell 24 6.67x
Greenwich 24 2.00x
Liskeard 24 16.80x
Mevagissey 24 42.28x
St George In East London 24 3.38x
Tormoham 24 3.61x
Walthamstow 24 4.48x
East Allington 23 169.99x
Royal Navy 22 2.86x
Swansea St Thomas 22 16.67x
Cheltenham 21 1.84x
Crowan 21 31.04x
Roath 21 3.52x
Trull 21 84.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 600
Elizabeth 413
Jane 188
Sarah 185
Eliza 142
Ann 123
Annie 117
Ellen 108
Emma 101
Margaret 101
Emily 86
Martha 80
Alice 74
Catherine 67
Louisa 62
Caroline 56
Edith 54
Maria 49
Susan 49
Florence 46
Bessie 41
Grace 40
Hannah 40
Charlotte 38
Fanny 37
Harriet 34
Amelia 31
Anne 31
Minnie 28
Ada 26
Frances 25
Kate 24
Clara 22
Lucy 22
Jessie 20
Matilda 20
Esther 18
Rebecca 18
Amy 17
Elizth. 17
Agnes 15
Harriett 15
Isabella 15
Lavinia 15
Lydia 15
Rose 15
Laura 14
Ethel 13
Henrietta 13
Gertrude 12

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 617
John 383
Thomas 324
James 186
Henry 150
George 134
Richard 131
Charles 125
Joseph 103
Samuel 82
Edward 74
Alfred 69
Robert 67
David 61
Frederick 61
Arthur 59
Edwin 46
Francis 44
Walter 40
Albert 36
Benjamin 25
Frank 24
Harry 24
Wm. 20
Nicholas 18
Ernest 17
Philip 17
Herbert 16
Stephen 15
Josiah 13
Peter 13
Daniel 11
Matthew 11
Thos. 11
Andrew 10
Edmund 10
Fredk. 10
Lewis 10
Fredrick 9
Joshua 9
Alexander 8
Christopher 8
Isaac 8
Chas. 7
Phillip 7
Richd. 7
Willie 7
Hannibal 6
Jas. 6
Sydney 6

FAQ

Johns surname: questions and answers

How common was the Johns surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7,655 people were recorded with the Johns surname. That placed it at #556 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Johns surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 10,472 in 2016. That gives Johns a modern rank of #619.

What does the Johns surname mean?

An English patronymic surname meaning "son of John."

What does the Johns map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Johns 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.