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Johns Family History

Johns Surname Meaning

English and Welsh: variant of John with genitival or excrescent -s or a variant of Jones . It is common in Cornwall and Devon south Wales the West Midlands and Lancashire. In North America this surname has absorbed cognates from other languages such as Albanian Gjonaj or any other Albanian patronymic from the personal name Gjon ‘John’ and its variants or derivatives; see also examples at Johnson . German: patronymic from John or a shortened form of Johannes . Americanized form of Swiss German Schantz .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: John, Jons, Joens, Johnk, Jorns, Jahns, Koons, Johnsen, Joanis, Kuhns

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Johns family from?

You can see how Johns families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Johns family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Johns families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 85 Johns families living in Ohio. This was about 18% of all the recorded Johns's in USA. Ohio had the highest population of Johns families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Johns surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Johns ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Johns. 19% of Johns men worked as a Laborer and 6% of Johns women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Johns were Truck Driver and Teacher. .

View Census Data for Johns | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    19%
  • Farmer
    14%
  • Salesman
    4%
  • Truck Driver
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    6%
  • Maid
    6%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
  • Teacher
    6%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Johns family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 377,000 census records available for the last name Johns. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Johns census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Johns

Passenger Lists

There are 37,000 immigration records available for the last name Johns. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Johns immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 62,000 military records available for the last name Johns. For the veterans among your Johns ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Johns lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Johns life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Johns in 1940 was 38, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Johns

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