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

Chrystal, 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 Chrystal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chrystal in America

Chrystal is the 39773rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chrystal surname appeared 552 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Chrystal.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chrystal 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 Chrystal

The surname Chrystal is believed to have originated in Scotland, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "cris-teil," which means "crystal-clear." This name likely referred to someone who lived near a stream or river with particularly clear water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a document containing the names of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to Edward I of England. The name appeared as "Cristal" in this record.

In the 15th century, the spelling evolved to "Chrystal," which is closer to the modern form. During this time, the name was primarily concentrated in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the counties of Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire.

The Chrystal name has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir William Chrystal (1490-1568), a Scottish laird and landowner who fought alongside Mary, Queen of Scots, during the Scottish Reformation.

In the 17th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of George Chrystal (1618-1684), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as the rector of the University of St. Andrews.

The 19th century saw the rise of several influential Chrystals, including George Chrystal (1851-1911), a renowned Scottish mathematician and professor at the University of Edinburgh. He made significant contributions to the fields of algebra and mathematical physics.

Another notable figure was James Chrystal (1832-1920), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland from 1892 to 1895. He was also a member of the Scottish Royal Commission on the Scottish Universities.

In more recent times, the name has been carried by individuals like Judith Chrystal (1926-2011), a Scottish actress and broadcaster who appeared in numerous television and radio productions throughout her career.

While the Chrystal surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, reflecting the migration patterns of Scottish families over the centuries. However, its origins can be traced back to the crystal-clear waters of the Scottish landscape, a fitting reference for a name that has endured for centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chrystal

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

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

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

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