John Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

John Name Meaning: This popular name originally comes from the Hebrew name 'Yohanan', meaning 'gift of God', 'The Lord has Favored', 'HaShem is gracious'.

This common religious name was often given in respect of St John the Baptist and of St John the Evangelist along with many other Christian saints and also became popular after the Crusades. It is one of the most popular names in Europe.

Discover how your John ancestors earned their living and spread across the country. Find out more about your family history by using the Free Search box.

Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

John Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the John family

Profession Census Frequency
Agricultural Labourer 690
Female Servant 548
Labourer 289
Farmer 280
Independent 261
Male Servant 241
Collier 197
Shoe Maker 90
Mariner 72
Mason 71
Carpenter 70
Blacksmith 63
Shipwright 59
Tailor 46
Pauper 43
Copperman 37
Pitman 32
Miner 31
Smith 30
Publican 29
Coal Miner 24
Joiner 24
Servant 23
Butcher 21
Dress Maker 20

John Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 John 100% 96,433
2 Jehan 60% 794
3 Jon 75% 424
4 Johan 80% 253
5 Jehn 75% 105

Did you know?

The surname John is the most popular version of all its varients

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