Johnson

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈd͡ʒɑnsən/

Definitions

1. A common surname of English origin, often associated with being the son of John
2. A family name widely found in English-speaking countries, sometimes indicating lineage or descent
3. An established surname that signifies ancestry linked to a historical figure named John

Etymology: Johnson is a patronymic surname meaning "son of John." The first half comes from John, which traces back through Latin "Iohannes" and Greek "Ioannes" to the Hebrew "Yochanan." The second half is "son," from Old English "sunu," the same root as the modern word. Once English families began passing down surnames, many households took their names from a father's first name, so countless unrelated families named Johnson arose independently, each descended from someone called John. Johnson is also used as a slang term for the penis, part of a wider pattern in which men's first names become bawdy slang. "Peter" follows the same pattern.

Synonyms: Johnson