(male) From the Latin form of the Greek name Alexandros, from alexein ‘to defend’ + anēr ‘man, warrior’ (genitive andros). The name became extremely popular in the post-classical period, and was borne by several individuals in the New Testament and some early Christian saints. Its use as a common given name throughout Europe, however, derives largely from the fame of Alexander the Great, King of Macedon (356–323 bc), around whom a large body of popular legend grew up in late antiquity, much of which came to be embodied in the medieval ‘Alexander romances’.
Short forms (also Scottish): Al, Alex, Alec, Alick.
Pet forms: Sandy (chiefly Scottish; Gaelic Sandaidh); Lexy, Lexie.
Cognates: Irish: Alastar. Scottish Gaelic: Alasdair (Anglicized as Alistair). German, Dutch: Alexander. Scandinavian: Alexander. French: Alexandre. Spanish: Alejandro. Catalan: Aleixandre. Portuguese: Alexandre. Italian: Alessandro. Russian: Aleksandr. Polish: Aleksander. Czech: Alexandr. Croatian, Serbian, Bulgarian: Aleksandar. Slovenian: Aleksander. Finnish: Aleksanteri. Hungarian: Sándor.
English and Scottish: patronymic from the personal name John. As an American family name, Johnson has absorbed patronymics and many other derivatives of this name in continental European languages. (For forms, see Hanks and Hodges 1988.)
FOREBEARS Johnson is the second most frequent surname in the U.S. It was brought independently to North America by many different bearers from the 17th and 18th centuries onward. Andrew Johnson (1808– 75), 17th president of the U.S., was born in Raleigh, NC, the younger son of Jacob Johnson and Mary (or Polly) McDonough.Little is known of his ancestors. The 36th president, Lyndon B. Johnson, dates his American forebears back seven generations to James Johnston (sic) (b. about 1662) who lived at Currowaugh, Nansemond, and Isle of Wight Counties, VA. Noted early bearers also include Marmaduke (d. 1674), a printer who came from England to MA in 1660; Edward (1598–1672), a colonial chronicler who was baptized at St.George's parish, Canterbury, England, and emigrated to Boston in 1630; and Sir Nathaniel (c. 1645–1713), a colonial governor of Carolina, who came from County Durham, England.
