Surname Christians - Meaning and Origin
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Christians: What does the surname Christians mean?
The last name Christians is of German origin and is an occupational surname that refers to a Christian. Historical records have indicated that the surname was first used as a status name to denote someone who actively practiced Christianity. It was most likely adopted during the 12th century amongst various Germanic tribes in the region.
The surname is closely linked to the first part of the family’s Christian name, such as “Christ” or “Christian”. As Christianity spread throughout Europe, the surname became more commonly adopted by individuals. Furthermore, some of the variations of the surname may also have derived from the German word ‘krist’ which means Christian.
Surnames at the time were often derived from the profession of the head of the household, a family’s place of origin, a physical characteristic or even the name of a beloved pet. Over time, ‘Christian’ became a more commonly used surname and different variations have taken place to refer to a Christian following classic spelling conventions of the time.
The surname Christians is used today by numerous individuals around the world who trace their roots back to the 12th century Germanic tribes. It is a testament to how a single surname has been passed down through the generations and how the religious beliefs of a family have been captured through the use of a surname.
Order DNA origin analysisChristians: Where does the name Christians come from?
The last name Christians is most commonly found in the United States, and is particularly prevalent in the Midwest and Upper South regions of the country. It is also common in Canada, particularly in Quebec, and to a lesser degree in other parts of Europe, mainly Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands.
The last name Christians has several possible origin stories, though the most likely is that it was Germanic in nature. It is believed that, during the Middle Ages, a Roman Catholic priest who went by the family name Christenmensch (meaning "one belonging to Christ") was the one who originally spawned the last name. From there, it was likely passed down through generations and eventually transformed into the English form of "Christians."
The last name has ties to several notable figures throughout history. For example, in the American Revolution, Abraham Christians (1750-1787) played an important role in the American resistance effort against the British. In the 1800s, a man named Francis Augustin Christians (1792-1855) served as the chief minister of Prussia under King Frederick William III.
Today, the last name Christians is still relatively common, with around 200,000 people in the United States sharing the surname. As a result, people with the last name Christians are dispersed throughout the world, in countries like the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands, as well as many others.
Variations of the surname Christians
Christian, Christman, Christmann, Cristman, Christen, Kristmann, Cristian, Cristensen, Crist, Christianson, Christiani and Cristiani are all variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin of the surname Christians. These are mainly German, Scandinavian and Italian derivations of the same surname that carry the meaning of ‘follower of Christ’.
The spelling of the surname Christians has evolved greatly as immigration spread the family name across the world. The surname Christians would typically have come from northern European roots such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. These roots have produced alternate spellings like Cristman, Kristmann, and Christianson.
The Italian derivation of the surname, Christiani or Cristiani, is more prevalent in the United States, as is the spelling of Crist. In this spelling, the first three letters have been swapped and the two L's have been dropped. The spelling of Crist is often seen with Eastern European origins.
The most common American variation of the surname Christians is Christman, likely because of the influence of English and Dutch settlers who arrived in the United States during the late seventeenth century. You can also find a variation of this spelling, Christmann, which is most often seen among the German diaspora who settled in the United States in the nineteenth century.
In conclusion, regardless of the spelling of the surname Christians, there are multiple equivalent variants. All of these spellings and surnames are derived from the same origin with the meaning of 'follower of Christ'.
Famous people with the name Christians
- Hayden Christensen: He’s a Canadian actor best known for playing the larrily-loving Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars prequels, and for roles in several other big-name films.
- Kirsten Christianson: She’s a former Miss Teen USA beauty queen and actor.
- David Christianson: He’s a popular New York-based financial planner who is a regular guest on various business and investing networks.
- Jared Christianson: He’s an American actor who has appeared in numerous TV shows and movies such as Spiderman, The West Wing, and The Hangover.
- Graham Christiansen: He is a professional footballer who currently plays for the Norwegian team Stabæk Fotball.
- Rick Christianson: He’s an American rock musician, best known for leading the Christian metal band Salvation.
- Herman Christiansen: He was a Danish architect who designed many of Copenhagen's finest buildings during the 19th century including Rådhuspladsen, Christiansborg Castle and Det røde Tårn.
- Ashton Christianson: He’s an Australian artist specializing in large-scale outdoor sculptures.
- Rose Christiansen: She is a British TV presenter who has appeared on shows such as Channel 4's Auction House and BBC Two's Victorian Farm.
- Michael Christiansen: He’s a Danish actor and film producer, who was the executive producer on the Swedish-Danish film Terraformer.