Surname Kristmann - Meaning and Origin
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Kristmann: What does the surname Kristmann mean?
The last name Kristmann is a patronymic surname stemming from the given name Krist, which is a Germanic diminutive of Christian. It is also common to find the surname in other cultures such as Finnish, Dutch, Danish, and Swedish. In some cases, the name is derived from an old Viking name, possibly from the Scandinavian personal name Kristmund or Kristman.
The surname has two distinct coat of arms associated with it, one bearing a red and gold shield, and the other with a red and black shield bearing a golden eagle. It is believed to be derived from the noble family of Kristmann in the duchy of Bavaria, Germany in the 12th century.
The meaning of the name Kristmann is unclear, but could come from two different sources. One source could be from the Old Norse for ‘son of Krist’, and the other could be from the Old Germanic for ‘filled with Christian faith’.
The name is appropiate to the family history, and today there are many people in various countries with the surname Kristmann. In some areas, it is more common to see the variations Kristman or Kriskman instead.
What unifies the name is its strong basis in faith and the dignity associated with the noble family that once shared it. Its origin is shrouded in mystery, but the name’s strength remains to this day.
Order DNA origin analysisKristmann: Where does the name Kristmann come from?
The last name Kristmann is most commonly found in Northern Europe, particularly in Norway, Denmark, Germany, and Austria. It is believed to have originated in the Germanic language, with its roots stretching back to a Germanic tribal family called Kristmanni or Kristmaningi. The name is derived from the Old Germanic name "Kristman" which is a combination of two words, "krist" meaning Christ and "man" meaning man or people. Records show that the name first appeared in the Middle Ages, most likely during the 13th or 14th century.
Today, the name is most common in Germany, Austria, and Norway, where it is the 37th, 80th, and 39th most common surname, respectively. The rest of Europe and Scandinavia also has a bit of a Kristmann presence with smaller concentrations in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Finland. Outside of Northern Europe, the name is very rare and is not likely to be found in significant numbers elsewhere.
The prevalence of the name lends to the suggestion that many of its current holders likely descended from the same family. Although there is not a definitive answer, one theory suggests that the family could have originated in France, as records dating to the 1100s have been found linking the name to the area.
However, modern immigration and the drastic population movements over the centuries have likely decreased the population of individuals with the surname Kristmann, though it still remains relatively common in areas that have typically seen more consistent populational concentrations.
Variations of the surname Kristmann
The surname Kristmann is derived from the Latin word “Christi”, which translates to “Christ’s”. It can be seen as a patronymic name, meaning “son of Christ”, and was common in Germany and Scandinavia during medieval times.
Variants of the name include Cristman, Kirstman, Kriestman, Kristman, Cristlem, and Krystman. These variations can be encountered in the United States, Germany, and Sweden and can be spelled differently, depending on the language or country in which it is found.
In Germany, the spellings could be Krüstman, Krüstmann, Krüstmer, Kruestman, Kruestmann, or Kreutmann. In Sweden, variants include Krysman, Krismar, Krysmare, and Krysmandel. Furthermore, the name has been anglicised by some families in the US, resulting in alternative spellings such as Kristman, Cristman, Crystman, Creestman, Crymmermann and Crismon.
In addition to the variants, some families have added suffixes to the surname, such as –mann, -e, -er, -en, -in, and –sen. For example, the surname Kristmann can appear as Kristmannen, Kristmanner, Kristmannsen, or Kristmannin, depending on the Germanic region.
In some cases, different surnames have developed from Kristmann, such as Kristman, Christman, or Cristem, due to phonetic spelling and the influence of language on the original name.
Famous people with the name Kristmann
- Steinunn Sigurðardóttir Kristmannsdóttir: Icelandic artist and professor known for her sculpture and installation art.
- ilmkris: musician from Iceland.
- Yngvi Kristmannsson: Icelandic jazz musician, bassist and composer.
- Kristmann Guðmundsson: Icelandic poet and novelist.
- Fríða Á. Kristjánsdóttir: Icelandic actress known for parts in television series like Rag & Bone and Children of Nature.
- Unnur Birna Björnsdóttir Kristmannsdóttir: Icelandic ice hockey player.
- Magnús Kristmannsson: Icelandic archaeologist and anthropologist.
- Kristmann Árnason: Icelandic sculptor.
- Hermann Kristmann: German neurologist, psychotherapist and lecturer in Hamburg.
- Halldór Kristmann Guðmundsson: Icelandic politician.