Surname Johsten - Meaning and Origin

Johsten: What does the surname Johsten mean?

The last name Johsten is of German origin and is derived from the personal name Johannes, meaning "God is gracious". This last name is quite old and was first recorded in the 13th century in northern Germany. It initially came from the Middle High German word "gutan" or "jury," both of which were derived from the Latin "jurare" or "to swear an oath". This suggests that the original bearer of this name was someone who was a representative of a feudal lord who had the power to exact oaths from people in his domain.

Johsten was a common last name throughout Germany, and is still popular today. Over time, the spelling of the name has changed and evolved, but the meaning of the name has stayed the same. This last name is found throughout Germany and parts of Scandinavia, as well as in America, where immigrants bearing the name settled in the mid-19th century. Johsten is an occupational surname, showing that the original bearer was a person of some importance in medieval society who made their living through their work.

Johsten is an old and distinguished name with an important connection to German history. It describes someone who was respected for their work and had the power to exact oaths from the people in their domain. This legacy lives on in the many families who still bear the Johsten name.

Johsten: Where does the name Johsten come from?

The last name Johsten is most common today in Denmark, where it has been for centuries. The name originated as a patronymic name, derived from the first name Johannes or Johan, which was derived from the Hebrew name “Yochanan” meaning “God is gracious”.

In the 19th century, Johsten was the 13th most common name in Denmark. Today, according to records from Statistics Denmark, it is 682nd most common name, with 3,967 individuals bearing the name as of 2020. It is more common in rural than in urban areas, and is particularly common in some of the northern regions of the country, as well as the western island of Fyn.

The last name is less common in other countries, though it can be found in more limited numbers in Germany, Norway and Sweden. Additionally, many descendants have emigrated to North America, especially the United States, and other countries throughout the world, possibly contributing to its spread.

Overall, the last name Johsten is most commonly associated with Denmark today, though it is only moderately common and its descendants can be found in a number of other countries in Europe and beyond.

Variations of the surname Johsten

Johsten is a patronymic surname of Scandinavian origin. It is a variant of the given name Johannes, which is the Scandinavian form of the Hebrew name Yehohanan (יהוחנן), which means ‘God is gracious’ or ‘grace of God’. The surname Johsten is also spelled Johstin, Johstun, Johstén, Johstenius, Josten and Jostin. It is also sometimes found as Jøhstensen, the patronymic form, and Jøhstein, an alternate spelling.

Variant forms of Johsten which feature spelling variants common to Nordic languages, such as Johstén with an accent, or Jöhstein with a umlaut, can be found in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark. In Sweden, the Jöhstein spelling is found most commonly and is the form most widely used by Swedish bearers of the surname. In Finland, the accent-less Josten form is most common. In Norway, the spelling Johstun is most found, while in Denmark the alternate spelling Jøhstensen is most common.

The name can also be found in North America, mainly concentrated in the upper Midwestern states among descendants of Scandinavian immigrants who settled in those regions during the 19th century. Here, the alternative spellings Johstin and Jostin are the forms most commonly found.

In some cases, Johsten has also been transformed into other surnames as populations shifted from place to place throughout Europe, particularly during the migration period of the late 18th and 19th centuries. Some bearers adopted more English-sounding versions of the name, such as Johenson or Joinson, in order to better assimilate into their new homeland.

Famous people with the name Johsten

• David Johsten: Swedish actor recognized for popular Swedish films such as “Svampplan” and “Blue Eclipse (1996).”
• Henrik Johsten: Austrian curler who won a bronze medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics and a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships.
• Martina Johsten: German four-time gold medalist at the International Ski Federation Nordic combi-event competitions
• Mary-Lou Johsten: English actress, best known for roles in the films “The Lair of the White Worm” and “The Sleepwalker.”
• William Johsten: Scottish-American video game character designer whose video games include “Crash Team Racing,” “Gran Turismo,” and “Metal Gear Solid.”
• Lars Johsten: Norwegian poet and novelist, who has published books such as “So Tell Me, Cowboy” and “Mountain Man.”
• Janis Johsten: Latvian photographer and frequently published in National Geographic for her nature photography.
• Erik Johsten: Danish professional film producer and director of several major films, including “The Funeral,” “The Choir,” and “The Dog Days.”
• Sidsel Johsten: Norwegian runner who won bronze medals at the 2019 World Championships in the 10,000 meter race and the 5,000 meter race.
• Kristina Johsten: Greek professional ice skater and five-time European bronze medalist, who participated in the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Other surnames

Johst