This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Christian,' a familiar North-English font-name, though not wholly confined to the North; generally feminine; v. Christie and Christison. The 'h' throughout all these names is intrusive.

Jordan fil. Cristine, Kent, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Agnes fil. Cristine, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

Brice Cristian, Somerset, ibid.

Cristina Alayne, Buckinghamshire, ibid.

Cristiane Lyttester, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Crstiana atte Tounead, 1379: ibid.

1591. Hamlett Christian and Margaret Rapior: Marriage Lic. (London).

1656. Married — Edward Christean and Elizabeth Huggins: St. Peter, Cornhill.

From the Latin personal name Christianas, 'belonging to Christ.' Christianus was the name of a bishop of Candida Casa (Whithorn) who died at Holm Cultram in 1186 (Chron. Mail.). James Christane in Kirkcudbright signs the Test, 1684 (RPC., 3. ser. X, p. 248). See Christie.

(Anglo-Latin-Greek) Anointed [from Latin Christus, Greek χριστός, anointed]

(English) Descendant of Christian (follower of Christ).

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 !" When leprosy was the scourge of Europe, the disease was sometimes personal, and the patient was called lazarius or ladre; sometimes hereditary, and then the sufferers were termed Giezites and Les Gezits, from Gehazi, the false servant of Elisha, from whom they were believed to be descended. Sometimes they were called Cagots de Chanaan, lepers of Canaan, from this belief; but "their most curious title, Crestiaas or Christians, was not given them in direct affirmation, but in denial of a negative, ' not non-Christian, ' because being considered of Gehazi's lineage,-not only Jews, but Jews under a curse,-many would be disposed to repel them from communion." N, and Q, v, 494.

Has come to us from Iceland in the form of Kristín. The Celtic mac was prefixed to it, and then it gradually became Anglicised into its present form.

Kristin is found in the Flateyjarbóc.

James, the seventh Earl of Derby, in one of his letters to his son, said: 'There be many of the Christians in this country—that is, Christins the true name; but they have made themselves chief here'. It is a very common name in the Isle of Man, especially in Maughold.

N. Christianus and Roger C., his son, Thomas, William C., of Normandy, 1180-1195 (Mag. Rot. Scac.). Walter Christianus, of Notts, 1199 (Palgr. Rot. Cur. Regis), Robert Crestien, Bricius, Ranulph, Robert Cristian or Cristin, and others in England, c. 1272 (Rot. Hund.).

From the Flemish, Christaen; from the Dutch, Christan; from the Swedish, Christen; from the German, Christian; a personal name.