Surname Krißt - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Krißt: What does the surname Krißt mean?
The surname Krißt is of German origin, deriving from the German word ‘Kriss’ which means ‘cross’ or ‘to cry out in anguish’. The surname is thought to be found mainly in Saxony and Bavaria. It is believed to have been adopted as a descriptive nickname for someone who was a preacher, or who otherwise had deep religious convictions and fervour. It could also have originated as an occupational nickname for someone who worked as a stone-cutter or mason who used a ‘kriß’ – a lever with a fork or clamp on one end used to move pieces of stone.
The name Krißt is most common in Germany; although there are families in other countries who claim descent from Germany or have adopted an Anglicised version of the name. Over the last two centuries, the name has spread across parts of Europe, and can be found amongst families in the United States and other parts of the world. It is not often seen in the British Isles.
The name’s meanings of ‘deep religious convictions’ and ‘lever used to move pieces of stone’ allude to the underlying strength of those who carry it – a strength that has enabled them to overcome whatever difficult tasks were faced by a man bearing the name.
Order DNA origin analysisKrißt: Where does the name Krißt come from?
The last name Krißt is found in many countries throughout the world today. Countries with the highest concentration of the last name Krißt include Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and the United States.
In the United States, the last name Krißt is most common in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Minnesota as well as other states in the Midwest. The surname can also be found in New York, California, and Texas. In the United States, the last name Krißt is most likely of German origin.
In Germany, the last name Krißt is common across the country with the highest concentrations being found in the southern states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Rhineland-Palatinate. The name is also fairly common in Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg with the majority of people with this surname residing in German-speaking regions of these countries.
The meaning of the last name Krißt is unknown. Its most likely derivation is from a short form of the German given name Christian, which itself is derived from the Greek means “follower of Christ”.
Overall, the last name Krißt is found in many countries throughout the world today, although it is most commonly found in German-speaking regions. Its meaning remains unknown, but most likely derives from the given name Christian.
Variations of the surname Krißt
The surname Krißt is of German origin and is also found in other variations such as: Kris, Crist, Krist, Kriss, Krister, Krüst, Cryst, and Crysti. It orginates from the German word ‘kristal’, which means ‘crystal’ in English.
Krißt is a variant of the German-language surname Krister, which is derived from the Old Norse given name Kristján. This name originally meant ‘follower of Christ’ in Old Norse. It is also the Anglo-Scandinavian patronymic form of the given name Christopher, from the Ancient Greek Χριστῶς (Khristos) meaning ‘Christ’.
Krißt is also a variant of the German-language surname Kris, derived from the Old High German given name Christaf, which is ultimately derived from the ancient Greek word Χριστός (Khristós) meaning ‘annointed’ or ‘messiah’.
At an even more ancient level, the surname Krißt is believed to have derived from the ancient Germanic-language name Kristōr, meaning ‘powerful’ or ‘shining one’.
Krißt can also be spelled as ‘Kriest’ or ‘Krist’, which are both variants of the surname Krister. Additionally, related surnames can be found in the spelling forms Krippendorf, Kripl, Krippner, Krips, and Kripsa.
Thus, the surname Krißt can be found in many spellings and variants, including Kris, Crist, Krist, Kriss, Krister, Kriest, Kripl, Krippendorf, Krippner, Krips, Kripsa, Kriest, and Krist. All of these variants originate from the same ancient roots, and all share the same meaning of ‘follower of Christ’.
Famous people with the name Krißt
- Krist Novoselic: former bassist of the grunge band Nirvana.
- Julius Krißt: Austrian painter and one of the most important figures in Vienna Secession.
- Michael Krißt: Biathlete for the German national team and winner of a silver medal at the World Championships in 2012.
- Julian Krißt: actor and director best known for his work in the “Twilight” movie series.
- Kerstin Krißt: German actress and television presenter.
- Björn Krißt: Swedish speed skater and Olympic bronze medallist.
- Maren Krißt: French freestyle skier and Olympic gold medallist.
- Ralf Krißt: former German footballer and winner of the 2001 DFB-Pokal cup.
- Phedon Krißt: Greek-German visual artist.
- Monika Krißt: Czech painter and sculptor.