Find out how popular the last name Christ is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Christ.

Christ, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Christ surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Christ in America

Christ is the 4854th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Christ surname appeared 7,261 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Christ.

We can also compare 2010 data for Christ to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Christ

The surname Christ originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "cristen," which means "Christian." This name was likely given to someone who was particularly pious or devout in their faith.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Christ can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as Cristen, Cristien, and Cryst.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Christ was particularly prevalent in regions like Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. It was often associated with religious figures or those who lived near churches or monasteries.

One notable figure from history with the surname Christ was John Christ, a 15th-century English cleric who served as the Abbot of St. Albans Abbey in Hertfordshire from 1470 to 1491. Another was William Christ (c. 1480-1535), an English Catholic martyr who was executed during the reign of Henry VIII for refusing to renounce his allegiance to the Pope.

In the 16th century, the surname Christ gained prominence in the Netherlands, where it was often spelled as Christus or Christiaens. One famous bearer of this name was Petrus Christus (c. 1410-1475/76), a renowned Flemish Renaissance painter known for his religious works and portraits.

Moving into the 17th century, the surname Christ was found in various parts of Europe, including Germany and France. One notable figure was Johann Friedrich Christ (1700-1756), a German theologian and philosopher who made significant contributions to the field of ethics.

In the 18th century, the surname Christ appeared in the United States, likely brought over by early English and Dutch settlers. One notable American with this surname was John Christ (1756-1828), a Revolutionary War soldier and pioneer who settled in Kentucky.

Throughout history, the surname Christ has been associated with religious figures, scholars, and individuals who played important roles in their communities. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since spread across various regions and cultures, reflecting the diverse and fascinating history of surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Christ

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Christ.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Christ was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Christ has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Christ was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Christ, please contact us.

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