Surname Littlejohns - Meaning and Origin

Littlejohns: What does the surname Littlejohns mean?

The surname Littlejohns originated from England and is derived from the old English 'Lytel John' or 'little John.' This was a term used to differentiate between two people with the same name, where the younger or the smaller of the two was referred to as 'little John.' Over time, this descriptive name evolved into a hereditary surname. So, the surname 'Littlejohns' can mean 'son of Little John' ('s' at the end of British surnames typically implies son of, much like 'son' in many Scandinavian last names). This name gained popularity due to the famous character Little John, a loyal companion of Robin Hood. It symbolizes an affectionate, familiar, or diminutive personal name. It is prevalent in English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

Littlejohns: Where does the name Littlejohns come from?

The surname Littlejohns is of British origin, specifically from English medieval times. It is derived from “Little John,” a pet form of the given name John combined with a diminutive suffix “little.” It functioned as a nickname, traditionally given to individuals who were smaller in stature or the younger of two persons bearing the same first name within a family.

The earliest known instance of the Littlejohns surname dates back to the 13th century in Devon, England. Another early record of the surname is seen in Scotland where William Lutyldjohn held lands in Aberdeen in 1340.

Today, the surname is most common in English-speaking countries. According to surname databases and distributions, the Littlejohns surname is most frequently found in England, especially South West England and London. It is also present to a lesser extent in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. However, it remains fairly uncommon, ranked as the 32,074th most common name worldwide and most prevalent in England according to Forebear's surname database.

Variations of the surname Littlejohns

The surname Littlejohns is of English and Scottish origin and it has a number of variations, spellings and related surnames. It evolved from the personal name "Little John" which literally means "little" or "young John."

The most common variant of Littlejohns is Littlejohn. Alternate spellings include Lytlejon, Littljohn, and Litteljohn. Historically, due to the absence of strict spelling rules, a person’s name could be spelt in various ways during a single lifetime, resulting in a multitude of spelling variations.

In Scotland, Littlejohn emerged as a notable family name in the county of Aberdeenshire. Littlejohns, on the other hand, is more common in England, particularly in Devon. Variations of the surname also include prefixes or suffixes, so names like Johnlittle or Johnstone could be related.

There are also surnames derived from Littlejohns in other languages which include Petitjean in French, Pequenojuan in Spanish, and Piccoligiovanni in Italian. Naming traditions like these, where a small or young version of a common first name becomes a last name, are seen in many cultures.

It is also worth noting that Little, Johns, and Johnson may be related as they contain portions of the original surname.

Famous people with the name Littlejohns

• Gavin Littlejohns: English footballer
• Maurice Littlejohns: American former soccer player
• James Littlejohns: American football coach and player
• Carl Littlejohns: English cricketer
• Jonty Littlejohns: British Army officer
• Lucille Littlejohns: American film actress
• Bob Littlejohns: British theatre director
• Senator Dinah Littlejohns- Australian politician
• John Littlejohns: British politician
• Alex Littlejohns: Barrister and Queen's Counsel

Other surnames

Littlejohn