| ![Show Contents]() Cristian History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of CristianWhat does the name Cristian mean? The Cristian family history stretches back to the clans of the Dalriadan kingdom on the sea-swept Hebrides islands and mountainous western coast of Scotland. The name Cristian is derived from the Latin given name Christianus, which means "belonging to Christ." Christianus was also the name of the 12th century Irish saint and Bishop of Candida Casa, and brother of St. Malachy of Armagh. Thus, the surname Christian became an extremely popular name, particularly in regions of Celtic or Irish influence such as Scotland, northern England, and the Isle of Man. It was also a common given name amongst the Danes and was the name of several Danish kings. The name is "very common in some parts of Scotland. Sir Walter Scott tells a story of an unsuccessful gaberlunzie woman who in the bitterness of her disappointment exclaimed: "Are there no Christians here?" and was answered: "Christians! nae, we be a' Elliots and Armstrangs !" 1 "Christianus was the name of a bishop of Candida Casa (Whithorn) who died at Holm Cultram in 1186." 2 Early Origins of the Cristian familyThe surname Cristian was first found in the north of England, "a familiar North-English font-name, though not wholly confined to the North." 3 As one would expect the early rolls had mixed entries for the name as both a forename and surname. By example, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Jordan filius Cristine, Kent; Agnes filius Cristine, Cambridgeshire; Brice Cristian, Somerset; and Cristina Alayne, Buckinghamshire. Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Cristiane Lyttester; and Cristiana atte Tounead. 3 We would be remiss if we didn't mention the Christian family from the Isle of Man in more detail. On the infamous side, the mutineer Fletcher Christian was from this stock, but notably, the rear-admiral Sir Hugh CloBerry Christian (1747-1798), the Max writer Thomas Christian (d. 1799) and William Christian (1608-1663) the Receiver-General of the Isle of Man claimed the Isle of Man as their homeland. Early History of the Cristian familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cristian research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1608, 1643, 1663 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Cristian History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Cristian Spelling VariationsSpelling in the medieval era was a highly imprecise process. Translation, particularly from Gaelic to English, was little better. For these reasons, early Scottish names are rife with spelling variations. In various documents Cristian has been spelled Christian, Cristian, McChristian, McChristianston and others. Early Notables of the Cristian familyNotable amongst the Clan from early times was William Christian (1608-1663), receiver-general of the Isle of Man (famous in Manx history under the name of Illiam Dhône, 'Brown-haired William'), born on 14 April 1608. "He was the third son of Ewan Christian, one of the deemsters or judges of the Isle of Man and deputy-governor of Peel Castle. In 1643 his father made over to him the estate of Ronaldsway. The circumstances of this transaction throw some light on Christian's...
Another 79 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cristian Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Cristian family to IrelandSome of the Cristian family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Cristian migration to the United States | + |
Settlers from Scotland put down roots in communities all along the east coast of North America. Some moved north from the American colonies to Canada as United Empire Loyalists during the American War of Independence. As Clan societies and highland games started in North America in the 20th century many Scots rediscovered parts of their heritage. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Cristian were among those contributors:
Cristian Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Francis Cristian, aged 40, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1736 4
- Hans Cristian, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1740 4
| Contemporary Notables of the name Cristian (post 1700) | + |
- Jonathan Cristian Figueira (b. 1992), Argentine professional footballer who plays as a midfielder
- Cristian Volpato (b. 2003), Australian footballer from Camperdown, New South Wales
- Cristian Benavente Bristol (b. 1994), Spanish professional footballer who plays for Universidad César Vallejo, as an attacking midfielder
- Cristian Leiva (b. 1977), Argentine footballer
- Cristian Salvato (b. 1971), former Italian racing cyclist
- Cristian Bertani (b. 1981), Italian footballer who plays for Como
- Cristian Damián Erbes (b. 1990), Argentine footballer
- Cristian Jafeth Noriega Santizo (b. 1987), Guatemalan professional football defender
- Cristian Maino (b. 1971), Argentine sprint canoer in the K-4 1000 m event at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona
- Cristian Miguel Riveros Núñez (b. 1982), Paraguayan professional footballer
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
 |
