- 1,241
- people in the U.S. have this name Get contact details for people named Bill Johnson
Meaning & Origins
Altered short form of William, not used before the 19th century. The reason for the change in the initial consonant is not clear, but it conforms to the pattern regularly found when English words beginning with w- are borrowed into Gaelic. The nickname ‘King Billy’ for William of Orange is an early example from Ireland, which may have influenced English usage. It is bestowed occasionally as a name in its own right.
| 293rd in the U.S. for 2011 |
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.)
| 2nd in the U.S. for 2011 |
Nicknames & variations
William, Billy, Billie, Wm, Willy, Willie, Willbur, Willis, Bil, Wilis
Johnston, John, Johns, Johnsen, Johnstone, Johnny, Johnsrud, Johnnie, Johnsey, Johnso
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