Boy · English (patronymic of John) · Christian
Johnson
JohnsonSay it JON-sun
- Meaning today
- Son of John, God is gracious
- Original meaning
- "son of John; John = Jehovah-favoured" Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, G2491 (from H3110, H3076)
- Say it
- JON-sun
- Other spellings
- Jonson
Johnson
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Johnson meaning
Johnson is a Christian boy's name of English origin (patronymic of John).
Son of John; John = Jehovah-favoured
Also used to mean: God is gracious
Johnson began as an English surname meaning "son of John", built like Jackson and Robinson from a father's name and son. John itself comes from Greek Iōannēs and the Hebrew Yehochanan, which Strong's Concordance (H3076) explains as "Jehovah-favoured", hence the gloss "God is gracious". In Kerala and Tamil Nadu the surname has long been used as a first name in Christian families, alongside Wilson and Jackson. Its best-known Indian bearer is Johnson, the Malayalam film composer whose melodies of the 1980s and 1990s remain widely loved.
Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary, G2491 (from H3110, H3076) · entry Yehowchanan · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Strong's H3076, Yehochanan (Bible Hub) · Wikipedia, Johnson (composer)
Famous namesakes
- Johnson, Malayalam film music composer
Spellings
Johnson · Jonson