Surname Christianus - Meaning and Origin
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Christianus: What does the surname Christianus mean?
The last name Christianus is of Latin origin and is derived from the personal name Christus, meaning "Christ." This name was popularized in the Middle Ages among the followers of Christianity and shows a long standing adherence to the Christian faith. It was derived from the ancient Greek Christos, itself derived from the Hebrew term Mashiach (Messiah). The name was popularized as a result of the teachings of Jesus Christ, the founder of the Christian religion.
The suffix “-us” was used to denote a patronymic surname, meaning the surname was derived from the father’s name, similar to the way in which the surname Johnson was derived from the given name John. As a result, Christianus likely referred to someone who was the son of Christian or Christ, or by extension, a Christian.
Christianus is an occupational name, meaning someone who was a Christian and could refer to someone of any number of vocations, including priest, missionary, minister, preacher, or teacher. It could also refer to someone who was devoted to the teachings of Jesus, and had adopted the name to signify their commitment to the faith. It is a powerful example of how names are passed down through the generations and how they can serve as a reminder of our religious and spiritual heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisChristianus: Where does the name Christianus come from?
The last name Christianus is a Latin surname believed to have originated from the Latin word Christianus, which means "belonging to Christ". It is mostly used in Europe, particularly in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal. It is also common in Latin American countries such as Mexico and Brazil, as well as in the United States.
The United States is home to the highest concentration of people with the surname. According to the 2020 US Census, nearly 38,000 people reported the surname Christianus as part of their surname. The surname is most popular in California, with over 8,000 people living there. Highly concentrated areas of the United States also include Florida, New York, Texas and Illinois.
The surname is traditionally thought to have been held by a family that had converted to Christianity in the Middle Ages or early medieval period. Due to its association with Christianity, it has been carried down through generations and is still relatively popular today, even amongst non-religious families.
Variations of the surname Christianus
The Latin version of the surname Christianus comes from the word ‘Christiane’ meaning ‘follower of Christ’. As such, there are numerous derivatives of the name that can be used.
The German version of the surname is 'Christiansen', whilst the northern French form is 'Chretien'. In the southern part of France, the variation is 'Chrestien' or 'Chrestian'. Other variations include 'Christoffel', 'Christin', 'Christ', 'Krispin', 'Crister', 'Cristofar', 'Cristofer', 'Crestian' and 'Christians'.
In some instances, particularly in Germany, Christianus may also take the form of 'Kristjanussen' or 'Krischanyi'. Later derivatives include 'Krischanowski' and 'Krischanovsky'.
In classical Greek, Christianus may also be spelled 'Χριστιανούς', whilst in Latin it takes the form 'Christianus'.
The most popular form of the surname in the United States is Christian, and in America, most people with the surname are of German descent. Other variants, such as Christiansen, Chrestien and Chrestian are also found in the US, albeit less frequently.
The surname can also be found in other countries such as Spain, Portugal and Italy, where it is spelled ‘Cristiano’ or ‘Cristianos’, and in the Netherlands, where it is spelled ‘Christiaans’. It can also be found in Poland, where it is spelled ‘Krzysztof’.
In conclusion, the surname Christianus has many variants and spellings depending on the country and language of origin. These include 'Christiansen', 'Chretien', 'Chrestien', 'Chrestian', 'Christoffel', 'Christin', 'Christ', 'Krispin', 'Crister', 'Cristofar', 'Cristofer', 'Crestian', 'Kristjanussen', 'Krischanyi', 'Krischanowski', 'Krischanovsky', 'Χριστιανούς', 'Christian', 'Cristiano', 'Cristianos', 'Christiaans' and 'Krzysztof'.
Famous people with the name Christianus
- Hortensius Christianus: Roman jurist
- Jodocus Hondius Christianus: Dutch geographer, cartographer, and publisher
- Abraham Christianus: Dutch Corporate lawyer
- Johannes Christianus: Dutch painter in the Dutch Golden Age
- Henricus Christianus: Danish painter and engraver
- Kristian Christianus: Danish archaeologist and historian
- Hermanus Christianus: Lithuanian polymath
- Adrianus Christianus: Dutch astronomer
- Johann Georg Christianus: German printer, editor, bookseller and publisher
- Johannes Christianus: German composer
- Franz Christianus: German composer, conductor and cantor
- Salomon Christianus: German poet
- Carl Christianus: German composer
- Wilhelm Christianus: German poet and playwright
- Jacobus Christianus: Lutheran priest
- Johannes Christianus: German theologian