I was not able to find a site to give me a lot of historical information on the Johnson surname origin. I will post what I have found and suggest that anyone with more information forward it to me.

Spelling variations include: Johnson, Joneson and others.

First found in Lincolnshire where they had been granted lands by Duke William on his conquest of England in 1066.

Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Widow Johnson who settled in Virginia in 1623; followed by Alice in 1635, Abraham in 1648; Albert Johnson settled in Maryland in 1682; Benjamin Johnson settled in the Barbados in 1660.