English and Scottish patronymic from the Middle English and Older Scots personal name Johan / Jo(h)n plus -son. Often interchanged with Jenson and Janson. In North America it absorbed Scandinavian, Dutch and German cognates such as Johnsen, Johansen, Jansen and Swedish Johnsson.
Spellings and related forms: Johns, Jenson, Janson, Johnsson, Johnsen, Johansen, Jansen.
Johnson means "son of John". The young oak growing from the acorn stands for "son of".
Most surnames have no single "family crest". In heraldry, a coat of arms belonged to one person and passed down one line of descent. Sites that sell "the Johnson coat of arms" usually show the arms of one historic family that shared the name. Ours is different on purpose: an original design built from what the name means, which any Johnson can own honestly.
Blankets: soft velveteen plush (100% polyester), printed on one side; may run up to 3 in. short of the listed size. Rugs: polyester chenille with hemmed edges and a coated backing, for indoor use. Both are printed in the USA (Georgia and North Carolina).
Name meanings come from the sources above, checked 2026-10. Where scholars disagree, we say so.