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

Christian, 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 Christian surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Christian in America

Christian is the 626th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Christian surname appeared 54,198 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 18 people would have the surname Christian.

We can also compare 2010 data for Christian 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 Christian

The surname Christian has its origins in medieval England, tracing back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "cristen" and "cristien," meaning "Christian" or "follower of Christ." These terms were commonly used as personal names during that era.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Christian dates back to 1176, when a person named Richard Cristien was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire. Other early records include a Johannes Cristian listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Sussex in 1209, and a Robert Cristien recorded in the Feet of Fines of Essex in 1240.

The Christian surname is believed to have originated in various regions of England, including Lincolnshire, Sussex, and Essex, where it was initially adopted by individuals with the given name Christian or those associated with Christian religious institutions.

In the famous Domesday Book of 1086, several entries mention individuals with the given name "Cristien" or "Cristiane," indicating the name's prevalence in Norman England. However, the use of Christian as a surname did not become widespread until the 12th and 13th centuries.

Notable historical figures with the surname Christian include Sir Robert Christian (c. 1577-1633), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of King James I. Another prominent bearer of the name was Edward Christian (1758-1823), a British-American lawyer and author who served as the Attorney General of Virginia.

Other individuals of note include John Christian (1786-1863), an English naval officer and explorer who served in the British Royal Navy and made significant contributions to the mapping of Australia's coastline. Additionally, Fletcher Christian (1764-1793) was a prominent figure in the mutiny on the HMS Bounty, leading a group of mutineers against Captain William Bligh in 1789.

During the medieval period, variations in spelling were common, and the Christian surname appeared in forms such as Cristian, Cristien, Cristiene, and Cristyen, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal practices of the time.

While the surname Christian has maintained its strong presence in England, it has also spread to other parts of the world, particularly through immigration and exploration. Today, it is found in various countries, reflecting the global reach of this historically significant name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Christian

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

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

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

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