UK surname
A patronymic surname derived from the given name John.
In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Jonston surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 24, ranked #36,392, down from #22,893 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Cammerton, Toxteth Park and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jonston is 260 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 68.0%.
1881 census count
75
Ranked #22,893
Modern count
24
2016, ranked #36,392
Peak year
1851
260 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Jonston surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Jonston surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 260 | #8,512 |
| 1861 | historical | 199 | #12,062 |
| 1881 | historical | 75 | #22,893 |
| 1891 | historical | 89 | #25,542 |
| 1901 | historical | 49 | #28,696 |
| 1911 | historical | 39 | #29,025 |
| 1997 | modern | 40 | #33,666 |
| 1998 | modern | 37 | #34,149 |
| 1999 | modern | 23 | #35,612 |
| 2000 | modern | 23 | #35,588 |
| 2001 | modern | 19 | #35,866 |
| 2002 | modern | 22 | #35,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 19 | #36,011 |
| 2004 | modern | 19 | #36,147 |
| 2005 | modern | 21 | #36,083 |
| 2006 | modern | 21 | #36,179 |
| 2007 | modern | 19 | #36,450 |
| 2008 | modern | 17 | #36,699 |
| 2009 | modern | 24 | #36,261 |
| 2010 | modern | 30 | #35,967 |
| 2011 | modern | 30 | #35,949 |
| 2012 | modern | 19 | #36,641 |
| 2013 | modern | 19 | #36,691 |
| 2014 | modern | 23 | #36,417 |
| 2015 | modern | 19 | #36,736 |
| 2016 | modern | 24 | #36,392 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Cammerton, Toxteth Park, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Stoneykirk and Tarves. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cammerton | Cumberland |
| 2 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 3 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 4 | Stoneykirk | Wigtown |
| 5 | Tarves | Aberdeen |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Jonston surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Jonston, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Jonston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Jonston household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Jonston is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Jonston is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Jonston, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Jonston has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Scottish Gaelic name Iain or Ian, which means "God is gracious." The addition of the suffix "-ston" suggests a connection to a specific location or estate.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jonston can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The rolls list several individuals with variations of the name, such as John Jonston and William Joneston.
In the 15th century, the Jonstons were prominent landowners in the Scottish Borders region, particularly in the areas around Annandale and Dumfriesshire. Records from this period mention the Jonston family's involvement in various conflicts and feuds with neighboring clans.
A notable figure in the Jonston family was Sir John Jonston, who lived in the late 16th century and was a renowned soldier and diplomat. He served as the Warden of the West Marches, responsible for maintaining order along the border with England.
Another significant individual was Arthur Jonston, a Latin poet and scholar born in Caskieben, Aberdeenshire, in 1587. He gained recognition for his works on natural history and medicine, including his influential treatise "Naudae et Admiranda Thaumanti" published in 1632.
In the 17th century, the Jonstons continued to play a role in Scottish history, with some members supporting the Royalist cause during the English Civil War. One such figure was Sir Archibald Jonston, Lord Warriston, a prominent lawyer and statesman who served as Lord Clerk Register of Scotland from 1637 to 1649.
The name Jonston also spread beyond Scotland, with variations like Johnston and Johnstone appearing in England and other parts of the British Isles. Notable individuals with this name include Samuel Johnston, a signer of the United States Constitution, and Joseph E. Johnston, a Confederate general during the American Civil War.
While the spelling and pronunciation of the name may have evolved over time, the Jonston surname remains deeply rooted in Scottish heritage, tracing its origins to the medieval era and the rugged landscapes of the Scottish Borders.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jonston surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 16 Jonstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.80x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 16 | 1.80x |
| Cumberland | 10 | 15.46x |
| Somerset | 9 | 7.44x |
| Warwickshire | 7 | 3.70x |
| Shetland | 6 | 78.23x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 0.67x |
| Perthshire | 3 | 8.90x |
| Channel Islands | 2 | 8.98x |
| Durham | 2 | 0.90x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 0.82x |
| Lincolnshire | 2 | 1.67x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 1.99x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 1.78x |
| Berwickshire | 1 | 10.99x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.60x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.64x |
| Dumfriesshire | 1 | 6.03x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.39x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 1.42x |
| Pembrokeshire | 1 | 4.19x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 11.17x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.27x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.79x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Horsington in Somerset leads with 9 Jonstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4736.84x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Horsington | 9 | 4736.84x |
| Birmingham | 7 | 11.09x |
| Delting | 6 | 1395.35x |
| Kirkdale | 6 | 40.03x |
| Workington | 6 | 162.16x |
| Auchterarder | 3 | 319.15x |
| Bromfield | 2 | 2000.00x |
| Dolphinton | 2 | 2500.00x |
| Haydock | 2 | 129.87x |
| Liverpool | 2 | 3.69x |
| St Peter Port | 2 | 48.54x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 6.63x |
| West Firsby | 2 | 20000.00x |
| Angle | 1 | 833.33x |
| Ashton In Potterspury | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Caldbeck | 1 | 333.33x |
| Canterbury St Margaret | 1 | 714.29x |
| Cheetham | 1 | 15.04x |
| Closeburn | 1 | 256.41x |
| Currie | 1 | 161.29x |
| Dalston | 1 | 200.00x |
| Eyemouth | 1 | 131.58x |
| Finchley | 1 | 34.72x |
| Great Meolse | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Ilfracombe | 1 | 62.11x |
| Lasswade | 1 | 43.48x |
| Ochiltree | 1 | 256.41x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 3.62x |
| Padiham | 1 | 46.51x |
| Poplar London | 1 | 7.05x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 13.07x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 3.07x |
| South Shields | 1 | 50.25x |
| Southwark Christchurch | 1 | 28.41x |
| St Giles In Fields London | 1 | 27.17x |
| Ticehurst | 1 | 129.87x |
| Tonge | 1 | 53.48x |
| Wheelton | 1 | 250.00x |
| Winston | 1 | 1111.11x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Jonston surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Jonston surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Jonston households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 8 |
| Coal Miner | 3 |
| Mansie Cook | 2 |
| Seaman | 2 |
| (sms) Nurse | 1 |
| AB Seaman | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Ag Lab Carter | 1 |
| Ag Lab Pauper | 1 |
| Ag Serv | 1 |
| Assistant At Home | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Cab Driver | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Drainer | 1 |
| Engine Man At Works (Driver) | 1 |
| Excavator | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Fellowship Porter | 1 |
| Fireman M F B | 1 |
| Formerly Cook | 1 |
| Gen Serv Dom | 1 |
| General Serv Domestic | 1 |
| Gunner R A | 1 |
| House Holder | 1 |
| Inn Keeper | 1 |
| Inn Keeper Wife | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Light Porter | 1 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 1 |
| Mariner | 1 |
| Quarter Master | 1 |
| Retired Nurse | 1 |
| Salesman | 1 |
| Seamans Wife | 1 |
| Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Soldiers | 1 |
| Steam Hand Driver In Ironworks | 1 |
| Tin Polisher | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Jonston surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 24 in 2016. That gives Jonston a modern rank of #36,392.
A patronymic surname derived from the given name John.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Jonston bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.