Surname Kristoff - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kristoff: What does the surname Kristoff mean?
The last name Kristoff is thought to come from Germanic origins and a root of the word “christus”, meaning “Anointed”. Kristoff is a primarily masculine given name, and the variations derived from it are a matter of regional use, spelling and tradition. In Scandinavia, the name is more commonly seen as Kristoffer, while in Germany, the variation is Christoph.
In Old Germanic, the meaning of words featuring “krist” derives from “kr” meaning “anointed”, suggesting that the last name Kristoff likely originated as a reference to someone who was part of the holy family in some way. It may, in fact, have been a reference to one of the three kings who attended the baby Jesus.
Today, Kristoff remains a common last name among Germanic nations, especially Denmark, Norway and Sweden. It is especially prevalent in Germany, which has the fifth highest birth rate of Kristoff’s of all nations.
The name has also spread to other nations, becoming popular in the United States and Canada as well. In some cases, the spelling has simplified into "Kristof", "Kris", or even "Krisoff".
Ultimately, the Kristoff last name likely derives from the words “kr”, meaning anointed, and “stoff”, meaning material. This could suggest that those with the last name Kristoff were in some way a part of the holy family, or believed to have special spiritual power.
Order DNA origin analysisKristoff: Where does the name Kristoff come from?
The last name Kristoff can be found all over the world today, although it is most common in Northern and Central Europe. In Germany, for example, it is the 93rd most common name, according to a 2019 survey. In countries with large German populations and communities, like the United States, Canada, and Australia, the name is also fairly widespread.
It is particularly prominent in Scandinavian and Baltic countries such as Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, and Finland. In Norway, Kristoff is the 19th most common name, and in Sweden it is the 233rd. Even further East, in countries like Poland and Belarus, the name remains relatively common. As of 2019, it was ranked the 792nd and 693rd most common last name in Poland and Belarus respectively.
Kristoff can also be found in parts of Asia and Africa, particularly in countries with significant Scandinavian or Baltic diaspora such as South Africa and Israel. It is also relatively frequent in Middle Eastern countries like Iraq and Iran.
The origin of the surname is not certain, but it is suggested to have originated as a patronymic type of name, typically used to denote a child of a person with the given name "Kristoffer" and similar Nordic variants. Whether the name had any ethnic connotations originally is a matter of speculation, but it certainly is an example of the spread of ideas and names across the world!
Variations of the surname Kristoff
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin as Kristoff are extremely varied and numerous. Some of the more common examples are Kristof, Kristofovski, Kristofferson, Kristoffersson, Kristoffus, Kristoffel, Kristofel, Kristofersen, Kristov, Kristofski, Kristoff, Kristofović, Kriztof, Krystof, Krystofowicz, Krystopowicz, and Krystov.
Kristoff is of German, Scandinavian, and Greek origin and its meaning is "follower of Christ". It may have originated from the personal name Christian or it may have come from an occupational name, indicating that the original bearer was a Christian priest or perhaps was a soldier in the Crusades.
In some cases, Kristoff may be a variant spelling of the Czech and Polish surname Krystof or Krystor. This surname has a slightly different origin, and its meaning is "bringer of Christ". It is most likely derived from the given name Krysto or Krystos, meaning "anointed one" or "follower of Christ".
The name Kristoff is also used in the Dutch culture, and can be spelled as Kristof, Kristoft, and Kristofte. In Dutch, the surname Kristoff or Kristof is derived from the given name Christopher, and it means "bearer of Christ". In East Flemish, the name is spelled Krijnstoffers and in West Flemish, it is spelled Kristof.
In some cases, Kristoff and its variants may be an altered form of another surname that has a slightly different meaning. For example, the German surname Kruger originated as a nickname for a person who worked as a wheelwright or wagon driver, and its meaning is "wheelwright" or "wagon maker". The surname might have been changed slightly over time, and eventually became Kristoff.
When used as a first name, Kristoff may also be spelled as Kristofer, Kristofor, Kristoffer, and Kristo. In all cases, the underlying meaning of the name remains unchanged.
Famous people with the name Kristoff
- Jonathan Kristoff: journalist and author of several books on political culture and the intersection of religion and politics.
- Elsa Kristoff: a fictional character in Disney’s Frozen franchise.
- Al Kristoff: a former American football offensive tackle.
- Vance Kristoff: an American actor best known for his role on the TV series The Office.
- Max Kristoff: a German figure skater who competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
- Jeff Kristoff: a professional baseball player in the San Francisco Giants organization.
- Christian Kristoff: a retired French professional tennis player.
- Anna Kristoff: a fictional character in Disney’s Frozen franchise.
- Tom Kristoff: an Australian composer and concert pianist renowned for his work in film, television, and video game scores.
- Amelia Kristoff: a Canadian television and film actress best known for her role in the series Supernatural.