Surname Johanson - Meaning and Origin

Johanson: What does the surname Johanson mean?

The last name Johanson is of Scandinavian origin. It is likely derived from the given name Johannes, which is a variant of John and means “God is gracious.” Johanson is a patronymic surname, which means that it was formed by using the father's given name as the basis of the surname. In this form, it is most commonly found in Norwegian and Swedish-speaking areas.

People bearing the last name Johanson have a long history of distinction throughout Scandinavia. This is largely due to the fact that Johannes is a name of strong historical and cultural importance. It was a very popular choice of name among common people back during the Middle Ages. In aristocratic households, the name was often used as a sign of reverence for the saint John, and it was associated with piety, power, and influence.

In Scandinavia, the ancient German spelling of Johannes is Johansen or Johanson, and it is the primary form of the name. As the name spread throughout Europe, it was adapted and localised to different variants, such as Janesk, Janesson, Jonson, Janssen, Johanssen, Joansen, and Jensen.

So while the last name Johanson has a simple origin in the given name Johannes, its long history holds a deep meaning for many people. For centuries, it has been a name associated with strong faith and influence, and modern families that bear it continue to honour this proud history.

Johanson: Where does the name Johanson come from?

The last name Johanson is most commonly found in Scandinavian countries today, notably Sweden, Norway, and Finland. It is derived from a patronymic surname, which typically originates from the first name of a person's father, in this case John. Therefore, Johanson can be interpreted to mean ‘the son of John’.

In Sweden, the Johanson name is the 11th most common surname. More than 50,000 people have this last name in the country, and the highest concentrations are located in the county of Jämtland, in the cities of Umeå, Malmö and Stockholm.

In Norway, the name is slightly less common, ranking at 24th. It can be found mostly in the cities of Stavanger, Bergen and Trondheim, and the county of Hordaland in particular has many people bearing the Johanson name.

In Finland, the Johanson name is much less common, and is found mostly in the eastern part of the country. The highest concentration is found in the city of Kuopio.

Overall, Johanson is a relatively common name, and it is found in many different Scandinavian countries. It is derived from the patronymic surname, and can be interpreted to mean 'the son of John'. The highest concentrations are located in Sweden, Norway and Finland, although smaller numbers of people can be found in the eastern part of Finland and other Nordic countries.

Variations of the surname Johanson

Johanson is a patronymic surname derived from the Scandinavian personal name Johan, a shortened form of Johannes. This surname is most common in Scandinavian countries, such as Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark, and also in other Nordic nations, such as Iceland. It can be spelled in multiple ways, ranging from Johnson, Janson, Janssen, Johansson, Jonsson, Johnsson, Jønsson and Jönsson.

Variants of Johanson can also be found in other countries, such as Germany and the United States. In Germany, the surname is commonly found as Johansen and Johannsen, while in America it is spelled as Johnson, Johns, Jonas, Jones, Johns, Jansen, Janssen, and Johannsen.

The surname Johanson can also be found in many other countries outside of Scandinavia. For example, in Ireland, it is spelled as Jensson, Ganssmann, Gleichmann, and Gansmann. In England, it is commonly found as Johns, Jones, or Johnes. In France, the surname appears as Jean or Jeanson. In the Netherlands, it is typically spelled as Janssen. In Poland, it is spelled as Jan, and in Russia it is Jons or Ivanova.

Overall, the variants, spellings, and surnames of Johanson are widespread throughout the world. All of these various forms indicate a common source, which is the personal name Johan, producing the patronymic surname Johanson.

Famous people with the name Johanson

• AJJ (formerly Andrew Jackson Jihad)– Singer/songwriter, indie-folk artist.
• David Johanson– Singer/songwriter, lead singer of the New York Dolls.
• Fitz Cahall– Adventure writer, filmmaker, and mountaineer.
• JC Chasez– Singer/songwriter, formerly of the boy band NSYNC.
• JJ Johanson– Singer/songwriter, known for the 2018 single "Hideaway".
• John A. Johanson– US Navy admiral and 13th Vice Chief of Naval Operations.
• John C. Johanson– Swedish footballer who played in the Sweden national football team from 1926-1935.
• John H. Johanson– American civil rights lawyer and arsonist.
• Magnus Johanson– Swedish former professional ice hockey player.
• Mark Johanson– American Paralympic athlete who competed in the shot put and discus throw events.
• Miriam Johanson– Swedish artist, knitter, and writer.
• Peter Johanson– Professional golfer on the PGA Tour Canada.
• Reese Johanson– US Marine Corps major general and commander of 1st Marine Division.
• Rollen Stewart– Grantsburg resident known for his “John 3:16” signs at sporting events.
• Steve Johanson– MLB pitcher from 1976-1983, known for his knuckleball.
• Terje Johanson– Norwegian former ski jumper who won the ski-flying world championship in 1983.
• Tom Johanson– English cricketer who played in two Tests for England in 1909 against Australia.
• Vic Johanson– American football player for the Los Angeles Rams from 1948-1950.

Other surnames

JohansJohansdotterJohansenJohanshonJohansmannJohansmeierJohansohnJohanssenJohansson