John (surname)

John is a surname based on the given name John, which is ultimately derived from the Hebrew name יוֹחָנָן, Yôḥanan, meaning "Graced by Yahweh".

In South Asia, John was adopted as a last name by some people during the British colonial era. It could be traced to mixed ancestry or colonial adaptation of the name by the locals. In South Asian countries there are mixed ancestry (such as Anglo Indian, Anglo Pakistani or Anglo Burmese) with similar or localized names to John. People with this surname include:

• Anaparambil Joseph John (1893–1957), Travancorean freedom fighter and statesman, Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin and Governor of Madras
• Augustus John (1878–1961), Welsh artist
• Avery John (born 1975), Trinidadian footballer
• Barry John (born 1945), Welsh former rugby union player
• Barry John (artist) MBE, Welsh artist
• Caroline John (1940–2012), British actress
• Collins John (born 1985), Liberia-born Dutch footballer
• Dilwyn John (born 1944), former Welsh footballer
• Elton John (born 1947), British pop singer
• Elton John (footballer) (born 1987), Trinidadian footballer
• Fritz John (1910–1994), German-American mathematician
• Gottfried John (1942–2015), German actor
• Gus John (born 1945), Grenadian-born writer, consultant, lecturer and researcher
• Gwen John (1876–1939), Welsh artist, sister of Augustus John
• Isaac John (born 1988), New Zealand Rugby League player
• Mable John (born 1930), American blues singer
• Olivia Newton-John (born 1948), English-Australian singer
• Otto John (1909–1997), German who plotted against Hitler, convicted of treason during the Cold War
• Peter John, German sprint canoeist who competed in the late 1990s
• Radek John (born 1954), Czech politician
• Rosamund John (1913–1998), English actress
• Roy John (footballer) (1911–1973), Wales international footballer
• Roy John (rugby player) (1925–1981), Welsh rugby union player
• Stern John (born 1976), Trinidadian footballer
• Tommy John (born 1943), American baseball player
• Walter John (1879–1940), German chess player
• Little Willie John (1937–1968), American R&B singer