

  • Johnson, Andrew 1808-1875. The 17th President of the United States (1865-1869). Elected Vice President (1864), he succeeded the assassinated Abraham Lincoln as President. His administration was marked by reconstruction policies in the South and the purchase of Alaska (1867). An attempt to unseat Secretary of War Edwin Stanton led to Johnson's impeachment on purely political charges brought by Republican senators (1868). Johnson was acquitted by one vote.
  • Johnson, Claudia Alta Taylor Known as "Lady Bird.” 1912-2007. First Lady of the United States (1963-1969) as the wife of President Lyndon Johnson. She directed a nationwide beautification project.
  • Johnson, Earvin Known as "Magic.” Born 1959. American basketball player. As a guard for the Los Angeles Lakers (1979-1991), he led his team to five world championships and was named the National Basketball Association's most valuable player three times.
  • Johnson, Eyvind 1900-1976. Swedish writer whose works, notably four semiautobiographical novels collectively titled Novels of Olaf (1934-1937), concern his impoverished youth and sociopolitical issues. He shared the 1974 Nobel Prize for literature.
  • Johnson, James Price 1894-1955. American pianist and composer noted for his ragtime compositions and show tunes, including "The Charleston” (1923), from the musical Running Wild.
  • Johnson, James Weldon 1871-1938. American writer and educator who was a founder and secretary (1916-1930) of the NAACP. His books include The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man (1912).
  • Johnson, John Arthur Known as "Jack.” 1878-1946. American prizefighter. He was the first Black world heavyweight champion (1908-1915).
  • Johnson, Lyndon Baines 1908-1973. The 36th President of the United States (1963-1969), who succeeded to the office after John F. Kennedy was assassinated. He won the 1964 election but faced increasing criticism over the mounting U.S. involvement in Vietnam and did not stand for reelection in 1968.
  • Johnson, Michael Born 1967. American runner. At the 1995 World Championships he became the first person to win both the 200 and 400 meters.
  • Johnson, Philip Cortelyou 1906-2005. American architect who designed the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center (1964) and the American Telephone and Telegraph Headquarters Building, now the Sony Building, (1978), both in New York City.
  • Johnson, Robert 1911-1938. American singer and guitarist. A legendary representative of the Delta blues tradition, his recordings influenced many later blues performers.
  • Johnson, Samuel Known as "Dr. Johnson.” 1709-1784. British writer and lexicographer. The leading figure among writers in the English language in the second half of the 18th century, he wrote Dictionary of the English Language (1755) and Lives of the Poets (1779-1781).
  • Johnson, Thomas 1732-1819. American politician and jurist. He was the first governor of Maryland (1777-1779) and served as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1792-1793).
  • Johnson, Walter Perry Known as "Big Train.” 1887-1946. American baseball player. A right-handed pitcher for the Washington Senators (1907-1929), he won 20 or more games a season for 10 consecutive seasons and set a major-league record for career shutouts (110).
  • Johnson, Sir William 1715-1774. British-born American pioneer and public official. In the French and Indian Wars he defeated the French at Lake George (1755) and captured Niagara (1759).
  • Johnson, William Julius Known as "Judy.” 1899-1989. American baseball player who is considered among the finest third basemen in history. During his 19 seasons in the Negro Leagues (1918-1937), he is credited with a career batting average of .344.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

  • proper n. A common surname. The second most common surname in the U.S.
  • proper n. Any of several place names in the United States founded by people with the surname.
  • proper n. the penis


  • n. 36th President of the United States; was elected vice president and succeeded Kennedy when Kennedy was assassinated (1908-1973)
  • n. English writer and lexicographer (1709-1784)


A patronymic surname from John +‎ -son, literally son of John. For an etymology of John, see the Wiktionary definition of John, or the Wikipedia article on John (name). (Wiktionary)


