Kristen
Kristen is a surname derived from the given name Christian, meaning "follower of Christ".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 240 Americans carry the last name Kristen. That puts it at #86,314 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,428,143 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kristen surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
240
1 in 1,428,143
Census rank
#86,314
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
216
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 216 bearers of the surname Kristen in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 86314th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kristen, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Kristen
The surname Kristen originated in the Low Countries (modern-day Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg) during the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Germanic personal name Christianus, meaning "a Christian."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Kristen can be found in the Annales Rodenses, a medieval chronicle from the Abbey of Rode in present-day Belgium, which mentions a Christianus de Hascha in 1162.
In the 13th century, the name appears in various forms such as Cristien, Cristiaen, and Cristen in records from the Low Countries and neighboring regions like the Rhineland.
The surname Kristen is also found in the 14th century Bruges Poortersboeken (registers of citizens) from the city of Bruges in modern-day Belgium. A notable example is Heinric Cristen, who was listed as a citizen in 1358.
During the Renaissance period, the surname Kristen spread to other parts of Europe due to migration and trade. In the 16th century, a Dutch merchant named Jan Kristen was documented as residing in London, England.
One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Kristen was Philipp Kristen, a German Protestant theologian and reformer who lived from 1505 to 1569. He was a prominent figure in the Reformation movement and worked closely with Martin Luther.
Another notable figure with the surname Kristen was Erasmus Kristen, a Dutch Golden Age painter who lived from around 1610 to 1680. He was known for his still life and genre paintings, which depicted everyday scenes and objects.
In the 18th century, the surname Kristen can be found in various records from the German states, such as the birth of Johann Christoph Kristen in Saxony in 1732.
One of the most famous individuals with the surname Kristen was Theodor Kristen, a German-Austrian composer and conductor who lived from 1853 to 1923. He was a prominent figure in the Romantic era of classical music and composed several operas and orchestral works.
The surname Kristen has also been associated with notable individuals in more recent history, such as the American actress Kristen Stewart, born in 1990, who rose to fame for her role in the Twilight film series.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kristen
Among Census respondents with the surname Kristen, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Kristen bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Kristen surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.4%
- Hispanic or Latino5.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander3.2%
- Two or more races2.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Kristen surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #86,314 | #86,314 | 0.0% |
| Count | 216 | 216 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Kristen bearers went from 216 to 216 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #86,314 to #86,314.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Kristen
FAQ
Kristen surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Kristen?
The surname Kristen holds position #86,314 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 240 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Kristen surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kristen, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.