JOHNSON-L Archives

From: "Ron & Val Hawkins" <>
Subject: [JOHNSON] Johnson surname
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 18:15:12 -0500

Hello fellow Johnson researchers,

In reply to Tom J. about the Johnson surname. Here is the last portion of
his email to Johnson Rootsweb:

What variety of Danish names are changed to Johnson when migrating to the
USA
?
When are the Danish names changed to their new USA name when migrating, when
they leave, sometime during the voyage, when they arrive or when they are
naturalized?

I will appreciate your reply to the above,
Tom J.



Tom and other Johnson researchers,

In answer to your question of when their named changed was when they entered
the US. Although many many versions of surnames are amongst us. This is from
the person whom they contacted when entering the US heard their name. Now
actually from the area in which they came from Johnson was not actually
their surname at all. I too have relatives from the area near Denmark and
have been in contact with them for 6 months now. Both by telephone and
emails.
The Johnson part came in this way. Their fathers first name was actually Jon
spelled like this in Denmark or perhaps his father. It all depends who was
the eldest. Let me explain how they name people in the Scandinavian region.
A child's first name from that region came from usually a dead relative's
first name, followed by partially the fathers first name. Thus there last
name changed considerably over there. Example:
Lets say a child's first name came from a dead person name of Nils (a common
name there) and the child's father was Jon (another common name) so now this
child would have a name of Nils Jonson.
Jon being the father's first name followed by son, hence "Jon's son".
The last name could have variations in spelling as well such as: Jonson,
Jonsen, Jonsøn, Jonsson, Jonssen, Jonssøn and etc.
A last name could also have changed by the farm in which they lived on. The
farm names never hardly changed and quite a few people took the farm name as
a last name as well, they either dropped their last name or added the farm
name on the end. Very confusing I know. Had I not been in contact with my
relatives I would not had known this information myself.
Now lets say a girl child was born. She too would take part of her fathers
name. Lets say she was name after a female relative named Kari (a very
common name there)(Carrie in the US spelling). Her name now would have been
Kari Jonsdatter. Or the last name could have been also Jonsdtr. In the US in
comes out to Jon's daughter. Again the farm name applies.
It was not until around the 1800's sometime their surname actually stayed
from generation to generation.
I hope this helps you and others.

Ron Hawkins

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• [JOHNSON] Johnson surname by "Ron & Val Hawkins" <>