# John (surname)

Source: https://namelineage.com/surname/john/  
Publisher: Name Lineage. Counts from the US Census Bureau; origin and etymology from Wiktionary; bearers from Wikidata. Data updated 2026-11-11.

A surname originating as a patronymic.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Origin | Norman |
| Type | patronymic, formed from a father’s (or ancestor’s) given name |
| People in the US (2010 Census) | 33,543 |
| US rank (2010) | 1,034 of 162,253 |
| How often | about 1 in every 9,204 people |
| Change since 2000 | +21% (27,643 in 2000) |
| Pronunciation | /d͡ʒɑn/, 1 syllable |
| Variant spellings | Jon |

## Etymology

From Middle English John, Johan, Johannes, from Anglo-Norman Jehan, Johan, and also Old English Iohannes, both from Late Latin Iōhannēs, variant of Latin Iōannēs, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννης (Iōánnēs), from Biblical Hebrew יוֹחָנָן (Yôḥānān), perhaps contracted from a former יְהוֹחָנָן (Yəhōḥānān, “God is gracious”). Doublet of Jack, Jon, Johan, Johann, Johannes, Jean, Sean, Shane, Shaun, Ian, Ivan, Evan, Juan, Giovanni, and Yahya.

## Who carries it

Share of people named John in the 2010 US Census by the Census's own race and ethnicity groups. The Census suppresses a share when the count behind it is small.

| Group | Share |
|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic) | 41% |
| Black (not Hispanic) | 21% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.1% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | 21% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 11% |
| Two or more races | 2.4% |

## Where

Wikidata records people named John in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Austrian Empire and India.

## People named John

- Little Willie John, American R&B singer (1937–1968)
- Karl John, 1905–1977; German film actor (1905–1977)
- Yemi Mary John, British athlete
- Franz von John, Austrian general, Minister of War of Austrian Empire and Austria-Hungary (1815-1876)
- Margaret John, British actress (1926–2011)
- George John, American soccer player
- Rosamund John, actress (1913-1998)
- Chris John, American politician
- Samantha John, American engineer. computer programmer and business executive
- Theodore St. John, American screenwriter (1906-1956)
- Barry John, Anglo-Indian theatre director (born 1944)

## Similar surnames

Jahn, Jeon, Jean, Jaime, Jain, Jin, Juan, June, Jun, Jim, Jayne, Juneau.

## How to read these numbers

A Census count is people alive and counted in 2010, not births, and names occurring fewer than 100 times are not published at all. Ethnicity shares are the Census's own categories.