Christiansen
A Scandinavian patronymic surname meaning “son of Christian.”
The #1,854 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 15,964 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Christiansen is a Scandinavian patronymic built from the given name Christian plus the ending -sen, meaning “son of.” In plain terms, it means “son of Christian.” The name Christian ultimately comes from Latin Christianus, “a Christian” or “follower of Christ.”
History
This surname is especially common in Denmark and Norway, where -sen patronymics are standard family names. In older German scholarship it is treated as a Scandinavian form alongside Christensen, showing the close relationship between the two spellings. The name spread widely through Scandinavian migration, especially to North America.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Christiansen and Christensen are near-twin surnames: both mean “son of Christian,” but they reflect slightly different Scandinavian spelling traditions.
From the historical record
“CHRISTIANSEN) Scand. forms of Christ- CHRISTENSEN J ianson, q.v. in Diet. CLERC l(Fr.)- Clerk [Fr. cUrc, Lat. CLERGUE; cleric-us] COQUARD (Fri) Old Gallant, Old Beau [Fr. caq, a coek -1- the intens. suif. -ard, O.lerxt. hard]”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)