Johnston History

The earliest certain use of this surname occurs shortly after 1174, when John gave his personal name to the property he had been granted in Annandale in Dumfries-shire. His son Gilbert adopted the name of the parish and barony of Johnstone. On the other hand it is extremely likely that others took their name from Johnston or St. Johnston, as Perth was still called in those days. There can by little doubt the Jonystoun in East Lothian, now Johnstonburn, also gave rise to families of the same name, though of different stock. And while the Johnstones proliferated as one of the most turbulent clans of the western borders, they cannot be connected with the Johnstons of Strathspey in the Highlands. These originate with Stephen the Clerk, who married Margaret, heiress of Sir Andrew Garioch, in the 14th century, and so obtained the lands of Johnston from which their descendants took their name. On the other hand, the vagaries of spelling offer little guidance to the origins of those who bear it today.

George Johnston of the Highland line was created a baronet of Nova Scotia in 1626.

But no Johnstone, whether from the Borders or from the Highlands, made a greater impact upon the history of Scotland than Archibald, son of James Johnstone of Beirholm in Annandale. At the Restoration in 1660 Johnstone of Warriston was excepted from the general pardon, and sentenced to forfeiture and death.

In the present century the most distinguished bearer of this name has been Thomas Johnston C. H. (1881-1965). Appointed by Sir Winston Churchill to be secretary of state for Scotland 1941-1945, he proved one of the ablest in the history of that office.