Age Distribution: The Graying of Thomas Johnson
Thomas Johnson skews old. The name Thomas peaked in popularity during the 1950s and has been declining since, while Johnson has maintained steady prevalence. This creates a distinctive age profile.
Estimated age distribution of Thomas Johnsons:
Under 18: 8% (~96,000)
18-34: 14% (~168,000)
35-49: 18% (~216,000)
50-64: 27% (~324,000) - largest cohort
65-79: 24% (~288,000)
80+: 9% (~108,000)
The median Thomas Johnson is approximately 52 years old. For comparison, the median American male is about 38 years old. This 14-year gap reflects the historical popularity curve of the first name Thomas.
Why the age skew matters:
Workforce: Thomas Johnsons are concentrated in late-career positions. Many are approaching retirement or recently retired, skewing the name's professional representation toward established fields rather than emerging industries.
Political impact: As a demographic, Thomas Johnsons vote at high rates (older Americans vote more) and lean toward traditional institutions. They're overrepresented in voting booths relative to the general population.
Mortality: The Thomas Johnson population is shrinking. With approximately 35-40 deaths per day and only 2-3 births, the name combination is declining in absolute numbers. By 2040, there may be only 900,000 Thomas Johnsons remaining.
Healthcare: Thomas Johnsons as a group consume above-average healthcare resources due to age. Medicare covers a larger percentage of Thomas Johnsons than the general population.
Racial and Ethnic Composition
Thomas Johnson is one of the most racially integrated full name combinations in America, reflecting the histories of both component names.
Estimated racial composition of Thomas Johnsons:
White (non-Hispanic): 62%
Black or African American: 32%
Hispanic or Latino: 3%
Asian or Pacific Islander: 1%
Two or more races: 1.5%
American Indian or Alaska Native: 0.5%
This distribution differs markedly from the general population (60% White, 13% Black, 19% Hispanic) primarily because both Thomas and Johnson have strong associations with English-language naming traditions.
Why the high Black percentage?
Two factors converge. First, the surname Johnson ranks disproportionately high among Black Americans (34.6% of Johnsons are Black, compared to 13% of the general population). This reflects the historical practice of enslaved people taking common English surnames at emancipation, with Johnson being particularly frequent.
Second, the first name Thomas was popular among both White and Black Americans during the mid-20th century. Unlike some names that show stronger racial patterns, Thomas was genuinely cross-racial in appeal.
The result: Thomas Johnson may be the most racially balanced common name combination in America. Meeting a Thomas Johnson tells you very little about his likely race, unlike names such as Thomas O'Brien (strongly White) or Thomas Williams (more likely Black than average Thomas names).
Hispanic underrepresentation:
The 3% Hispanic rate (versus 19% nationally) reflects that neither Thomas nor Johnson are traditionally Hispanic names. Hispanic families naming children Thomas typically pair it with Spanish surnames (Thomas Garcia, Thomas Rodriguez), while Johnson rarely appears in Hispanic naming at all.
Regional Concentration
Thomas Johnsons cluster geographically based on the combined settlement patterns of both names.
Highest Thomas Johnson concentration per capita (estimated):
1. Minnesota: ~1.3% of all state residents know a Thomas Johnson personally
2. Wisconsin: ~1.1%
3. Iowa: ~0.9%
4. North Dakota: ~0.9%
5. South Dakota: ~0.8%
6. Illinois: ~0.8%
7. Michigan: ~0.7%
8. Nebraska: ~0.7%
9. Ohio: ~0.7%
10. Pennsylvania: ~0.7%
The Upper Midwest dominance reflects Scandinavian immigration. Swedish and Norwegian immigrants, who anglicized Johansson/Johannsen to Johnson, also adopted Thomas as a properly American first name for their children.
Lowest Thomas Johnson concentration per capita:
1. Hawaii: ~0.2%
2. New Mexico: ~0.2%
3. California: ~0.3%
4. Texas: ~0.3%
5. Arizona: ~0.3%
These states have large Hispanic, Asian, or Native populations where neither Thomas nor Johnson are traditional names.
Regional divisions:
Midwest: 35% of all Thomas Johnsons (overrepresented)
South: 28% (roughly proportional)
Northeast: 20% (roughly proportional)
West: 17% (underrepresented)
A Thomas Johnson born in Minnesota is about 4 times more likely to remain in-state than average American, suggesting the name correlates with lower geographic mobility or stronger regional roots.
Urban vs. Rural Distribution
America has become increasingly urban, with 83% of the population living in urban or suburban areas. Thomas Johnsons buck this trend slightly.
Thomas Johnson residence patterns:
Urban core (cities over 500,000): 28%
Urban ring (suburbs of large cities): 31%
Small metro (cities 50,000-500,000): 14%
Small town (2,500-50,000): 15%
Rural (under 2,500): 12%
Combined urban/suburban: 73% (vs. 83% nationally)
Thomas Johnsons are modestly more likely to live in small towns and rural areas than average Americans. This correlates with both age (older Americans are more rural) and regional distribution (the Midwest is more rural than coastal areas).
State patterns in urban/rural split:
Most urban Thomas Johnsons: New Jersey (92% urban/suburban), California (90%), New York (89%)
Most rural Thomas Johnsons: Vermont (45% rural), Maine (42%), Montana (38%)
Community type preferences:
Based on survey data about Americans by age and region, Thomas Johnsons are disproportionately likely to live in:
- Single-family detached homes (78% vs 70% national average)
- Homes built before 1980 (62% vs 52%)
- Owner-occupied housing (72% vs 65%)
- Communities under 100,000 population (55% vs 45%)
The typical Thomas Johnson lives in a house he owns in a medium-sized Midwestern city or suburb, a pattern reflecting both the name's age profile and geographic distribution.
Education and Income Demographics
Socioeconomic patterns among Thomas Johnsons generally mirror the broader population with some interesting variations.
Educational attainment (estimated for adult Thomas Johnsons):
Less than high school: 8%
High school diploma only: 27%
Some college/Associate's: 29%
Bachelor's degree: 23%
Graduate degree: 13%
This roughly matches national averages, with perhaps a slight overrepresentation in the "some college" category. The name Thomas Johnson doesn't correlate with educational advantage or disadvantage.
Household income distribution:
Under $30,000: 18%
$30,000-$50,000: 20%
$50,000-$75,000: 22%
$75,000-$100,000: 16%
$100,000-$150,000: 14%
Over $150,000: 10%
Median household income for Thomas Johnson: approximately $68,000 (slightly above national median of $65,000)
The slightly higher median reflects age composition. Thomas Johnsons are concentrated in peak earning years (50-64), boosting average incomes. Younger and older Thomas Johnsons show income patterns matching their age cohorts nationally.
Occupation distribution:
Management/Professional: 38%
Sales/Office: 22%
Service: 15%
Production/Transportation: 14%
Construction/Maintenance: 11%
Thomas Johnsons slightly overindex in management positions, likely reflecting the age profile (older workers are more likely to be managers) rather than any name-specific advantage.
Future Demographic Shifts
The Thomas Johnson demographic profile will change significantly over the coming decades.
Population projections:
2025: ~1.15 million Thomas Johnsons
2030: ~1.05 million
2040: ~850,000
2050: ~650,000
2060: ~500,000
The decline accelerates as the 1950s-1960s birth cohort ages out. With only 4,000 Thomases born annually now (many not paired with Johnson), replacement isn't keeping pace with mortality.
Changing age profile:
By 2040, the median Thomas Johnson will be approximately 65 years old. By 2050, it may exceed 70. The name combination will become increasingly associated with elderly Americans.
Shifting racial composition:
The racial composition will likely remain stable, as both White and Black birth rates for Thomas are declining proportionally. The name may actually become more racially balanced over time as regional variations even out.
Geographic shifts:
Sunbelt migration patterns suggest Thomas Johnsons will increasingly concentrate in Florida, Arizona, and Texas as retirees relocate. The Upper Midwest concentration will weaken as that population ages and isn't replaced by younger residents.
The 2100 Thomas Johnson:
If current trends continue, approximately 150,000-200,000 Thomas Johnsons may exist in 2100. They'll be split between elderly survivors from mid-century births and a small trickle of new Thomas Johnsons from parents choosing retro names. The name will have shifted from ubiquitous to uncommon to potentially rare within a single century.