Clan Johnston/e
Clan Johnston/e. The Johnstones and Johnstons, as well as many Johnsons, trace their heritage back to the Annandale Region in the 12-Century. The early Johnston/es shared lands in this area with the Bruces, and were possibly related to them. The surname is a place name, and the original spelling was Jonistun or Jonestoun. The earliest records of Johnston/es refer to a Sir Gilbert de Joneston and his father John. The Johnston/es became a powerful border clan and became involved in frequent episodes of border warfare and reiving expeditions.
The Johnston/es spread out from Annandale and occupied other areas of Scotland. The Caskieben branch of the Clan, which is based in Aberdeenshire, traces its origins to Stiven de Johnston who lived in the 14th Century. The early presence of Johnston/es in Perthshire gave Perth its ancient name of St. Johnstoun. Cadet lines sprang primarily from the Annandale branch, and include the Johnston/es of Elsieshiels, Westerhall, Newbie, Poldean, and Elphinstone, to name a few.
The current Clan Chief is Patrick Andrew Wentworth Hope Johnstone, Earl of Annandale and Hartell. Lord Annandale resides in Johnstonebridge in the Annandale Region. Clan Johnston/e in America, which includes Canada and the U.S., was founded in 1976 at the Stone Mountain Highland Games in Stone Mountain, GA.
