Census Data: How Johnson Ranks
The US Census Bureau has tracked surname frequency since 1790, with modern detailed data available from the 1990 and 2010 censuses. Here's where Johnson stands:
Top 10 US Surnames (2010 Census):
1. Smith: 2,442,977 (0.84%)
2. Johnson: 1,932,812 (0.63%)
3. Williams: 1,625,252 (0.53%)
4. Brown: 1,437,026 (0.47%)
5. Jones: 1,425,470 (0.47%)
6. Garcia: 1,166,120 (0.38%)
7. Miller: 1,161,437 (0.38%)
8. Davis: 1,116,357 (0.37%)
9. Rodriguez: 1,094,924 (0.36%)
10. Martinez: 1,060,159 (0.35%)
Johnson's #2 position has remained stable for decades. The gap between Smith and Johnson (about 500,000 people) is significant, but both far exceed the third-place Williams. This top tier of Anglo surnames reflects America's English colonial origins.
Notable is the rise of Hispanic surnames into the top 10. Garcia, Rodriguez, and Martinez now rank higher than traditional English names like Wilson or Anderson. In California and Texas, Garcia has already surpassed Johnson locally. Demographic projections suggest Garcia could overtake Johnson nationally by 2040-2050.
Geographic Distribution
Johnson distribution across America reveals fascinating regional patterns tied to immigration history and settlement patterns.
States with highest Johnson concentration (% of population):
1. Minnesota: 1.8% (approximately 101,000 Johnsons)
2. Wisconsin: 1.3%
3. North Dakota: 1.2%
4. South Dakota: 1.2%
5. Nebraska: 1.1%
6. Iowa: 1.0%
7. Illinois: 0.9%
8. Washington: 0.8%
9. Oregon: 0.8%
10. Michigan: 0.8%
The Upper Midwest dominance reflects Scandinavian immigration. Minnesota received massive Swedish and Norwegian immigration in the late 1800s, and many Johanssons and Johannsens became Johnsons upon arrival or in the following generation. This pattern extends across Wisconsin, the Dakotas, and into the Pacific Northwest.
States with lowest Johnson concentration:
1. New Mexico: 0.3%
2. Hawaii: 0.3%
3. California: 0.4%
4. Texas: 0.4%
5. Arizona: 0.4%
These states have diverse populations where Anglo surnames are proportionally less common. California, despite its low concentration rate, has the most Johnsons by total count due to its massive population.
States with most total Johnsons:
1. California: ~156,000
2. Texas: ~130,000
3. Florida: ~95,000
4. New York: ~90,000
5. Illinois: ~80,000
Origins: English and Scandinavian Roots
The surname Johnson has two distinct historical origins that converged in America.
English origin: Johnson developed as a patronymic surname in medieval England, literally meaning "son of John." As surnames became hereditary between 1200-1400 CE, men named John passed "Johnson" to their sons regardless of the sons' first names. Given that John was the most common male name in medieval England, Johnson proliferated rapidly.
English Johnsons arrived in America from the earliest colonial period. Johnson appears on the passenger lists of ships arriving in Jamestown and Plymouth. By 1790, the first US census recorded Johnson as already among the most common American surnames.
Scandinavian origin: In Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, patronymic naming continued much longer than in England. A man named Johan's son would be called Johansson or Johannsen. These "son of Johan" names were essentially the Scandinavian equivalent of Johnson.
When Scandinavians immigrated to America, particularly during the massive migration of 1850-1920, many anglicized their surnames. Johansson, Johannsen, Johansen, and Jansson all commonly became Johnson. This was partly for simplicity, partly for assimilation, and partly because immigration officials sometimes made the change themselves.
The Upper Midwest concentration of Johnsons reflects this Scandinavian stream. In Minnesota, most Johnsons trace to Swedish or Norwegian ancestors who Americanized their names within a generation of arrival.
Racial and Ethnic Distribution
The Census Bureau collects demographic data on surname distribution, revealing interesting patterns about Johnson bearers.
Racial composition of Americans named Johnson (2010 Census):
White: 58.9%
Black or African American: 34.6%
Hispanic or Latino: 2.6%
Asian or Pacific Islander: 0.8%
Two or more races: 2.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native: 0.7%
Johnson shows one of the highest Black proportions among top surnames, reflecting the historical practice of enslaved people taking surnames from enslavers or from the general English surname pool upon emancipation. John was one of the most common names given to enslaved men, and Johnson naturally followed.
For comparison, Smith's racial distribution is 70.9% White and 23.1% Black. Williams is 48.5% White and 46.7% Black. Johnson falls between these extremes, making it the most "balanced" of the top Anglo surnames in terms of racial distribution.
This diversity means the name Johnson doesn't carry strong ethnic associations. Unlike distinctly Irish (Murphy), Italian (Rossi), or Hispanic (Garcia) surnames, Johnson could belong to an American of almost any background.
Historical Growth Patterns
Tracking Johnson's prevalence over time reveals how the surname grew alongside America itself.
1790 Census: Johnson ranked approximately #9 among American surnames, with roughly 10,000 bearers. The population was still largely colonial English stock.
1850 Census: Johnson had risen to approximately #4, with about 150,000 bearers. Natural population growth and English immigration contributed.
1900 Census: Johnson reached #2 position behind Smith, with approximately 700,000 bearers. Scandinavian immigration had added hundreds of thousands of new Johnsons.
1950: An estimated 1.4 million Johnsons, maintaining the #2 position. Post-war baby boom increased absolute numbers.
2000 Census: 1,857,160 Johnsons recorded, still #2.
2010 Census: 1,932,812 Johnsons, still #2 but with Hispanic surnames gaining ground.
The growth pattern shows two distinct phases: gradual increase from English population growth (1790-1870), then accelerated growth from Scandinavian immigration (1870-1920). Since 1920, growth has matched general population increase, with no major new inputs.
Projections suggest Johnson will remain #2 through at least 2030, but may be overtaken by Garcia or another Hispanic surname by mid-century as demographic composition shifts.
Johnson Compared to Other Patronymics
Johnson belongs to a family of "son of" surnames that dominate American name statistics. Comparing them reveals patterns.
Most common patronymic surnames in America:
1. Johnson (son of John): 1,932,812
2. Williams (son of William): 1,625,252
3. Jones (son of John, Welsh form): 1,425,470
4. Davis (son of David): 1,116,357
5. Wilson (son of William): 801,882
6. Anderson (son of Andrew): 784,404
7. Jackson (son of Jack): 708,099
8. Harris (son of Harry): 624,252
9. Robinson (son of Robin): 603,839
10. Thompson (son of Thomas): 598,989
Notice that "son of John" surnames appear twice: Johnson (English form) and Jones (Welsh form). Combined, they'd total 3.36 million Americans, far exceeding Smith.
Also notable: Jackson exists separately from Johnson because Jack was considered a distinct name from John in medieval naming practices. Jack originated as a diminutive of John but evolved its own identity.
The patronymic pattern shows which first names were most common in medieval Britain: John, William, David, Andrew, Harry (Henry), and Thomas. These were the names that generated the most "son of" surnames when naming became hereditary.
Among these patronymics, Johnson has maintained the most stable ranking over time. Williams and Jones have both fluctuated more in relative position, while Johnson has held firmly at #2 for over a century.