The Johnstone surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 7,313 people carried this name — #4,825 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 40,300 people counted. That is up 1% from 7,227 in 2000.

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In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 29 people named Johnstone.

Most of them — 26 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 2 départements, most often Paris.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 26
Paris 2
French Polynesia 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

95 people named Johnstone is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 95

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In Scotland, 1880s

Johnstone was 43 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 233. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “Most numerous south of the Forth and the Clyde, especially in the Scottish border counties, and particularly in Dumfriesshire.” He counted the more than 20,000 names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, taking Scotland as a whole, and listed only the names that reached 10 in every 10,000.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), appendix: alphabetical list of the most frequent Scottish names, p. 590 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.

In Scotland’s registers today

Johnstone was recorded 246 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 76th most common name in those registers. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 454. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

In 1790, Johnstone was counted together with Johnson: 2,646 families in all.

Each family is counted by its head. About 15,004 people lived in those households, 5.7 to a family on average. The census counted these spellings together: Johnson, Jahnson, Jhonson, Johnsin, Johnsom, Johnston, Johnstone, Jonson, Jonston. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

North Carolina 419
Pennsylvania 388
Connecticut 297
Massachusetts 290
Virginia 259
New York 236
South Carolina 213
Maryland 173
New Hampshire 146
Vermont 101
Maine 63
Rhode Island 61

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 247 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Johnstone in American newspapers,
1879–1901.

Newspaper page from The Anaconda Standard carrying the name Johnstone
The Anaconda Standard 1899-03-26
Newspaper page from Daily Kennebec Journal carrying the name Johnstone
Daily Kennebec Journal 1879-06-05
Newspaper page from Daily Inter Mountain carrying the name Johnstone
Daily Inter Mountain 1901-01-19

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 3,190 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Johnstone in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2000s.

143,035 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Johnstone. The most, 23,382, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Tasmania, at 1.9 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 38,462
Victoria 37,065
Queensland 25,247
Tasmania 16,862
South Australia 15,901
Western Australia 8,580
ACT (Canberra) 602
Northern Territory 158

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Johnstone.

Who carried it

People named Johnstone,
with a public archive behind them.

  • George Johnstone d. 1825 · military personnel
  • Sir William Johnstone, 2nd Baronet d. 1727 · politician
  • Sir John Johnstone, 1st Baronet d. 1711 · politician
  • Hugh Johnstone d. 2014
  • Charles Johnstone d. 1826
  • Sir John Johnstone d. 1296

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Johnstone,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States2,765 records

2,765 records of the Johnstone name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 1,206
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 533
  • Other U.S. records 1,026
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Jack D. Johnstone

    Born 1921 in Wisconsin. Enlisted 1942 at Milwaukee; office clerk from Rusk County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1994, buried at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Illinois.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Gerald E. Johnstone

    Born 1912 in Oregon. Enlisted 1942 at San Francisco, California; secretary. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1985, buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record William Johnstone

    Arrived at New York in 1904 aboard the Patricia from Cuxhaven, aged 21; sailor. From Liverpool, England; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 2,765 records for Johnstone in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia5,352 records

5,352 records of the Johnstone name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 2,667
  • Tasmanian Names Index 1,238
  • Other Australian records 1,447
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Lorenzo Johnstone

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Larkins, sailing from Downs in 1831. Native of Monaghan. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1838.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Grace Scott Johnstone

    Died 1884 in Deloraine, Tasmania, aged 81. Will registered in Tasmania in 1884.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Annie Johnstone

    Arrived in Victoria in 1887 aboard the Loch Rannoch, aged 34; Scottish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 5,352 records for Johnstone in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada702 records

702 records of the Johnstone name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 449
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 77
  • Other Canadian records 176
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Archie Johnstone

    Killed in 1928 at the Dominion No. 2 mine, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Joseph Johnstone

    Came to Ontario in 1878 aboard the Scandinavian, landing at Halifax, bound for McBrydges, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Janet Johnstone

    Buried in 1968 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 82.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 702 records for Johnstone in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom299 records

299 records of the Johnstone name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 148
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 105
  • Other British records 46
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Charles Johnstone

    Born 1900 at Forres; footman. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Margaret Johnstone

    Died 1992, aged 82; buried at Balfron Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Goodwick Johnstone

    Will proved in 1925.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 299 records for Johnstone in the United Kingdom.

Counts: Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

New Zealand120 records

120 records of the Johnstone name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 78
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 20
  • Other New Zealand records 22
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Clarence Millar Johnstone

    Died 1984, aged 71; buried at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Hall Johnstone

    Buried in 1918 at Shortland Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 40.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Ian Thomas Johnstone

    Died 2000, aged 59; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 120 records for Johnstone in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands36 records

36 records of the Johnstone name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 14
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 12
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 10
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Andrew Johnstone

    Died 1944 in Zelhem; born 1916; soldier.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Susanna Henrietta Johnstone

    Married in 1881 in 's-Gravenhage.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record James Johnstone

    Died 1860 in Westdongeradeel, aged 19.

    Open Archives, AlleFriezen (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 36 records for Johnstone in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

France5 records

5 records of the Johnstone name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Willy Johnstone

    Born 1920 in Paris; died 1993 in Châteauroux (Indre).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Robert Edgeworth Johnstone

    Born 1900 in Ireland; died 1994 in Sablé-sur-Sarthe (Sarthe).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 5 records for Johnstone in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Ireland1 record

1 record of the Johnstone name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Thomas H. Johnstone

    Died 1918; buried at St Marys, Tuam, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Johnstone.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Johnstone is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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