Surname St. John. - Meaning and Origin

St. John.: What does the surname St. John. mean?

The last name St. John is a French and Spanish surname. It is derived from the name of St. John the Baptist, the prophet of Christianity who baptized Jesus Christ. This surname is common throughout the world with its derivatives being found mainly in France, the British Isles, and Spain.

The word ‘St.’ is an abbreviation of the Latin word “Sanctus” which can be translated to ‘holy’ or ‘holiness’. Therefore, the last name St. John is an indicator of holiness and purity.

In France, there are two origins of this surname. The first origin is that it refers to a birthplace or a place where St. John the Baptist lived or was venerated. The second origin is that it could be a form of the name ‘Jehan’, which is a Middle French diminutive form of the old French personal name Johannes, meaning ‘grace of God’.

In the British Isles and other parts of Europe, the surname St. John developed as a result of the Norman Conquest. It is commonly found in Ireland, where it is associated with the Devereux family who adopted the name St. John when they acquired lands in the twelfth century. In Scotland, the surname is ‘St. Johnstone’ or more often ‘St. Johns’ which refers to a location in East Lothian where St. John the Baptist was venerated.

The surname St. John is today widespread throughout the world and is seen as a symbol of holiness and purity. It is not an uncommon name and many people today have the last name St. John.

St. John.: Where does the name St. John. come from?

The last name St. John is still common today, primarily in the United States and United Kingdom. It is typically seen spelled as "St. John", "St John" or "St John's".

In the US, St. John is a relatively common surname, ranking 8,936 in terms of frequency according to the US census of 2020. In the United Kingdom, the surname is ranked 281 in terms of frequency according to the most recent UK Census from 2011.

The name is often of French origin, derived from Saint Jean or Saint John. Those who bear this surname may have family ties to French nobility, as the names were typically favored by the upper classes. It is also possible that individuals adopted the name due to religious leanings or in honor of St. John.

The St. John name is most commonly found in North America. It is also common throughout the Caribbean, as Saint John is the patron saint of French colonial islands such as Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthelemy.

It is not uncommon for individuals bearing this name to be associated with Saint John the Baptist, a prophet who baptized Jesus in the Christian faith.

Overall, the last name St. John is still quite common and can be found throughout many places in the United States, United Kingdom, and the Caribbean. The name is often associated with French nobility or with individuals that who have a religious connection to Saint John the Baptist.

Variations of the surname St. John.

The St. John surname has different variants in spelling and pronunciation, depending on the region and origin. Common variants include Saint John, St. John, Saint-John, Saint Johns, Saint-Johns, Sanjohn, San Juan, San Juanne, and Soinne.

In the French origin, the surname is mainly spelled Saint-John or St. John. Some of the variations, including Saint Johns and Saint-Johns, originated from the Gaelic-Norman spelling of the name as de Saint-John.

In Scotland, the St. John surname is often seen as Sinjohn or Synjohn. These spellings are derived from an Old Norse word meaning “son of John”.

In Spanish-speaking countries such as Latin America, the surname Saint John may be spelled San Juan or San Juanne.

In Portugal, the surname is spelled Soinne, similar to the Irish spelling O' Sinné.

Finally, in the United States, the surname Saint John often appears as "St. John" without the final 's', and in India, it is commonly spelled as "Sanjivan".

The St. John surname is one of the oldest and most widespread throughout Europe and around the world. It is a sign of unity and strength, having been carried down through generations of families living in almost every corner of the globe.

Famous people with the name St. John.

• John St. John: American actor
• John Paul St. John: English rugby league footballer
• Xavier St. John: American basketball player
• Thirza St. John: British stage actress
• Mark St. John: American rock guitarist
• Stedman Graham: American businessman, public speaker, and author
• Erika St. John: Canadian artist
• F. B. St. John: American farmer
• Liza St. John: American voice actress
• Elizabeth St. John: American Broadway actress

Other surnames

St. John