Surname Kerstian - Meaning and Origin
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Kerstian: What does the surname Kerstian mean?
The last name Kerstian is a German and Scandinavian spelling of the name “Christiansen” or “Christensen”, a patronymic name of the Danish origin. The name Kerstian is derived from the Latin word “christianus” which translates to mean “follower of Christ” or “believer in Jesus”. It is believed that this name originated as a way to identify a family as descended from the Christian religion.
This surname became quite common in Germany and Scandinavia after the Reformation when many families adopted this last name in place of a more traditional name.
Kerstian is considered a "ethnic German" name. That means that it is a name traditionally used by people of German heritage and display they were of this ancestry. It is also a name with a proud history as many Germans and Scandinavians take pride in their cultural and religious heritage.
The name is still used today and remains popular in German and Scandinavian countries, as well as Danish-American communities in the United States and Canada. It is generally seen as a strong, determined, and reliable name with much history and honour behind it.
Order DNA origin analysisKerstian: Where does the name Kerstian come from?
Kerstian is an old Germanic name. It is most commonly found in large parts of Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Denmark. It is uncommon in other parts of Europe and North America.
It is believed to originate from the Old German name ‘Kerstianus’, which was derived from the Latin word ‘cristinus’ meaning Christian. However, the precise meaning of the name is disputed, with some suggesting it means ‘twilight, dark or night’ while others suggest it was a name derived from an old Germanic god.
The surname is relatively rare outside of the Germanic countries but some examples of people bearing the name can be found in countries such as South Korea, the United Kingdom, India, and the United States.
In Germany, the legal name Kerstian was introduced as a first name in the early 19th century as a result of romanticism and the belief in creating a nation of ‘cultural purity’. It is a very popular name in Germany today, though many bear it in a variation spelling such as Kerstien or Kersten.
In the Netherlands and Denmark, the name is most common in the provinces of Groningen and Friesland, as well as in the province of Funen in Denmark.
The name Kerstian is a beautiful name that is rooted in Germanic history and cultures, and it is still popular in many countries today.
Variations of the surname Kerstian
Kerstian is a surname with German and Scandinavian roots. Common variants are Kirstian, Kirstein, Kerstein, Kerstin, Kerstien, Kersten, Kirsten and Kirstin.
Kerstian can be found in countries such as Sweden, the United States, Canada, and Australia. In Sweden, spellings such as Kerstin, Kersten, and Kerstien are often encountered. In the United States, mainly Kerstein, Kirstian, and Kirstein can be found.
This surname has also many other variants, including Kerstian, Kärstin, Kirtin, Kurstin, Körstin, Körsgård, and Körsgaard.
In Germany, variants such as Körting, Kursten, Körtling, Köstler, and Kersting are more commonly found than in other countries.
Kerstian is also found in other countries such as Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland, where a variety of spellings are used.
Alternate spellings of Kerstian are also occasionally encountered, including Karrstein,Keirsten, and even Keresan.
Surnames such as Keirst, Kesken, and Kirchstein derive from the Kerstian line. In some cases, derivative surnames have either dropped the final 'n' and/or adopted an altered pronunciation, such as Kersche and Krisch.
No matter which variant or spelling of the Kerstian surname is found, they are all likely derived from the same Medieval personal names. As such, they can all be considered to have the same origin.
Famous people with the name Kerstian
- Otto Kerstian (19th century German-American sculptor and builder)
- Manuela Kerstian (German long-distance runner)
- Brenna Kerstian (MTV's “MADE” winner and actress)
- Karsten Kerstian (German photographer)
- Andre Kerstian (German professional footballer)
- Thorsten Kerstian (German-born music producer and composer)
- Ole Kerstian (Austrian rock and jazz guitarist)
- Lotta Kerstian (multimedia artist from Berlin, Germany)
- Lesley Kerstian (Australian choreographer and dancer)
- Jakob Kerstian (German professional footballer)