Johnson Cemetery Records
Search burial records, grave locations, and genealogy data for the Johnson family name across all 50 states.
🏺 Origin of the Johnson Surname
Johnson is a patronymic surname meaning "son of John." It derives from the Hebrew name Yohanan (God is gracious), which became Johannes in Latin, John in English, and Jan/Hans in Germanic languages. Johnson appears in English, Scandinavian (Jansson, Johannsen), and Scottish (Johnston, Johnstone) variants.
🇺🇸 Johnson Families in American History
Johnson families came to America from England, Scotland, Ireland, and Scandinavia in large numbers. The name is also extremely common among African Americans — many freed enslaved people adopted Johnson as a surname after emancipation, often taking the name of a former slaveholder or simply choosing one of the most common American surnames. By 1880, Johnson was already one of the top-3 surnames in the United States.
Where Johnson Families Are Concentrated
| State | Notes |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | Very high concentration due to Scandinavian (Johansen/Jonsson) immigration to upper Midwest |
| Mississippi | High proportion of African American Johnson families with deep Southern roots |
| Texas | Largest absolute numbers; significant both Anglo and African American populations |
| Georgia | Strong African American Johnson family roots from emancipation era |
| Virginia | Colonial-era English Johnson families with records dating to 1600s |
Famous Americans Named Johnson
17th US President; buried at Andrew Johnson National Cemetery, Greeneville, TN
36th US President; buried at LBJ Ranch, Stonewall, TX
Delta Blues musician; buried at Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Greenwood, MS
Poet, novelist, NAACP leader; buried in Brooklyn, NY
Search Tips for Johnson Family Records
Distinguish Scandinavian Johnsons (upper Midwest) from English Johnsons (East Coast/South) by geography and period
Search variant spellings: Johnston, Johnstone (Scottish), Johanson, Johansen (Scandinavian)
For African American Johnson research, focus on Southern states and records from 1865–1920
Presidential Johnson ancestors (Andrew or LBJ family) have well-documented genealogies to cross-reference
Church cemetery records are especially important for rural Johnson families
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find Scandinavian Johnson families versus English ones?
Geographic location is the best indicator — Scandinavian Johnsons (originally Johansen, Johansson, Janssen) concentrated in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota. English Johnsons are most common in Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Are there Scottish Johnstons related to Johnson families?
Johnston and Johnstone are distinct Scottish surnames that share the same root as Johnson. They are not the same family line but do share common etymological origins. Many Scottish Johnstons arrived via Ulster (Northern Ireland) as Scots-Irish immigrants.
Why is Johnson so common among African American families?
After emancipation in 1865, formerly enslaved people needed to choose surnames. Many adopted the surnames of enslavers or overseers (often the same common English surnames), while others chose popular American surnames like Johnson, Smith, or Williams as a form of self-identification.
Can I find pre-Civil War Johnson burial records in the South?
Yes, though records are less complete. Plantation-era death records, church registers, and county death certificates (where they survive) contain some pre-war burial information. Post-1865 records are more complete for both white and African American Johnson families.
Search All Johnson Burial Records
250 free record views per month. Find your Johnson ancestors across all 50 states. No credit card required.
Search Johnson Records Free →