This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Christian,' from nick. Christie. Christie and Christy are all but invariably North English or Border surnames, Christian being a former favourite font-name in those districts. It is still a popular girl's name in the Scottish Lowlands. Formerly it was common to both sexes.

Christie Grame, 1582: Nicolson and Bum, Hist Westm. and Cumb.

Christie Halliday, 1602: ibid.

Christie Wilkin, 1602: ibid.

(a) Bapt. 'the son of Christopher,' from nick. Christie. Occasionally used in the Border district, but (1) more generally.

Christe Irwen, 2 Edward VI: ibid.

This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Christopher.' I have been told that all who bear the somewhat rare name of Christopherson hail from Furness, in North Lancashire. Anyway it is a native, and owes its origin to the treacherous sands of Morecombe and Duddon. The legend of St. Christopher is that he found an occupation in guiding passengers across a wide stream. One night he bare unawares the child Christ, and was about to sink under an ever-increasing weight, when the Saviour said, 'Thou bearest Him who beareth the sins of the world.' No doubt there would be a shrine to the Saint for belated travellers on Chapel Isle, opposite Conishead Priory. Many a babe would be dedicated to him in gratitude for some hairbreadth escape his father had experienced. As a font-name Christopher is still extremely popular throughout Furness. Christopherson also remains:

'John Christopherson (d. 1558) bishop of Chichester, was born at Ulverston, in Furness': Dictionary of National Biography.

Christopher, whether as fontname or surname, is not found in the Hundred Rolls, 1373.

Rogerus Cristofore, 1379: ibid.

1545. Married — Christopher Fell and Jenet Casson: St Mary, Ulverston.Stolen from Fore-bears

— — Lawrence Parke and Agnes Christoferson: ibid.

1546. Buried — John Christophorson: ibid.

Christopher Scales: ibid.

Nicholas Christoferson, of Dunerdall, 1598: Lancashire Wills at Richmond.

Francis Christoferson, of Coulton, 1664: ibid.

A diminutive of (1) Christian or Chistinus, which see, and (2) perhaps also of Christopher. The surname is very common in Fife, which indeed seems to have been an early home of the name. Chrystie was the name of an old Stirling family (see "The Christies and their doings," in Stirling antiquary, III, p. 212—214). In a charter dated 13th July 1457, granted by the abbot of Lindores to the burgh of Newburgh, John Chrysty appears as a burgess (Laing, Newburgh, p. 479—480). John Chryste was admitted burgess of Aberdeen in 1530 (NSCM., I, 51). Sir Robert Criste, presbyter, witness in Fife, 1547 (Gow, 9). Cristina Criste or Crystie was tenant under the bishop of Moray, 1565 (REM., p. 434). Jhone Cristie was a "bume ledder" (water carrier) in St. Andrews, 1590 (St. Andrews, p. 687). Henry Crystie, heir of John Crystie in Leith, 1597 (Inquis., 7). John Crystie had precept of sasine of land in the vill of Stentoune, 1605 (RD., p. 503), and David Crystie was burgess of Dysart, 1634 (Retours, Fife, 503). As forename: Cristy de Carvant of Edinburghshire, 1296, also appears as Cristine de Carvan (Bain, II, p. 201,227), Cristie Pairman, 1569 (RPC., 1, p. 661). Chrystie 1605, Chrysty 1688, Creste 1612, Criste 1541, Cristy 1476.

Formerly a not uncommon forename in Scotland, but better known under the pet form Chrystal, which see. Used also as an Englishing of Gitte Chriosda (Gilchrist).

This English name is included here because, though never numerous in Ireland, it has been consistently located in Co. Waterford since the thirteenth century. No less than eleven men of the name appear in the cases recorded in the Justiciary Rolls for Co. Waterford in or before 1295 and an even earlier instance of the name there occurs in the person of Griffin Christopher, who was Bishop of Lismore from 1225 to 1245. In the “census” of 1659 it appears as a principal Irish name in Co. Waterford; and coming to comparatively recent times we find nearly all the Christopher birth registrations have been in the same county, where indeed their descendants are still represented by a number of families.

(Anglo-Greek) Christ-Bearing, Christ-Tribute [Greek Χριστοφορος: v.under Christian, and + a deriv. of Greek φέρω = Latin fero, to bear]

This name has been continuously in Co. Waterford since the thirteenth century and was recorded in 1659 as one of the principal Irish names in the barony of Decies. SIF 33

“Christo­pher” in Greek.

(English) Descendant of Christopher (Christ-bearer); dweller at the sign of St. Christopher.

The Christian name, whence Christoffers, Christopher, Christopherson, Christie, Christy, Christey, and probably Chrystall. Also Kitt and Kitson.

A diminutive of Christopher, which signifies Christ's carrier.

From St. Christopher. Richard de St. Christopher occurs in Normandy, c. 1180 (Mag. Rot. Scac.). He appears to have been of the family of Harenc, and the estate was granted to new owners by Philip-Augustus, 1204.