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

Cristol, 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 Cristol surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Cristol in America

Cristol is the 138741st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cristol surname appeared 111 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Cristol.

The history of the last name Cristol

The surname Cristol has its origins in the region that is now modern-day France. It is believed to have roots dating back to the Middle Ages, specifically around the 12th century, when surnames first began to be used more commonly in Europe. The name likely derives from the Old Occitan word "crista," meaning crest or summit, and it is associated with regions in southern France where Occitan was widely spoken.

Historians suggest that Cristol might also be linked to geographic features or local landmarks in the French landscape, particularly those marked by high altitudes or notable elevations. Alternate spellings in historical records include Cristou, Cristhol, and Cristeau, reflecting variations in dialects and orthographic practices over the centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Cristol can be found in the archival documents of the Abbey of Saint-Felix-de-Montceau, dating back to the year 1234. Here the name appears as "Johannes de Cristou," indicating a possible noble lineage or land ownership associated with the name.

In the 14th century, Guilhem Cristol is recorded as a notable merchant operating in the bustling market towns of Languedoc. His transactions and contributions to the local economy are noted in various municipal archives from 1365 to 1397. Another individual, Pierre Cristol, served as an ecclesiastical advisor to the Bishop of Aix in the early 15th century, his tenure marked by several surviving correspondences that date between 1420 and 1435.

The name also appears in the Huguenot exile records during the late 17th century, with one Jacob Cristol noted as having fled to the Netherlands in 1685 following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. His journeys and eventual settlement in Amsterdam are well-documented, and he was known for his advocacy for religious tolerance until his death in 1723.

Famous bearers of the Cristol surname include Jean-Baptiste Cristol, a renowned botanist born in 1754 who made significant contributions to the classification of Mediterranean flora. His published works from 1780 to 1801 are still referenced by scholars today. In the arts, Marguerite Cristol, born in 1896, gained prominence as a celebrated actress in Parisian theater during the early 20th century, her career spanning from 1915 until her retirement in 1950. She remains a significant figure in French theatrical history.

Overall, the Cristol surname carries a rich historical legacy, intertwining with various social, economic, and cultural contexts across multiple centuries. Its evolution and the notable figures associated with it highlight its enduring presence in French history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cristol

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Cristol 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.

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

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

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