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

Christensen, 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 Christensen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Christensen in America

Christensen is the 433rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Christensen surname appeared 75,143 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 25 people would have the surname Christensen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Christensen 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 Christensen

The surname Christensen has its origins in Denmark, where it first emerged in the late Middle Ages. The name is a patronymic, meaning "son of Christen," with Christen being a Danish form of the name Christian. This naming convention was common in Scandinavian countries, where surnames were often derived from the father's given name.

The earliest recorded instances of the Christensen surname can be traced back to the 15th century in various Danish records and documents. One notable example is the mention of a Niels Christensen in the records of the city of Odense, dated around 1450.

Christensen is a relatively common surname in Denmark, particularly in areas such as Jutland and the islands of Zealand and Funen. Over time, variations in spelling emerged, including Christiansen, Kristensen, and Christophersen, reflecting regional dialects and preferences.

While not as widespread as in Denmark, the Christensen surname can also be found in other Scandinavian countries, such as Norway and Sweden, likely due to migration patterns and cultural exchanges between these regions.

Notable individuals bearing the Christensen surname throughout history include:

1. Hans Christensen Sthening (1544-1610), a Danish astronomer and mathematician known for his contributions to the development of the Gregorian calendar.
2. Søren Christensen (1780-1842), a Danish painter recognized for his landscape and genre paintings.
3. Christen Christensen (1859-1933), a Norwegian explorer and whaler who played a significant role in the exploration of Antarctica.
4. Parley P. Christensen (1888-1968), an American academic and agricultural scientist who made significant contributions to the field of agronomy.
5. Asger Oluf Christensen (1905-1985), a Danish architect known for his modernist designs, including the Royal Danish Embassy in London.

While not an exhaustive list, these individuals represent the diverse fields and accomplishments of those bearing the Christensen surname throughout history, reflecting the rich cultural heritage associated with this Danish patronymic name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Christensen

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

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 Christensen 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 Christensen 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 Christensen was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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