Christophers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The origins of the name Christophers are from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from Christopher, an ancient and popular personal name which has been popular for many years as literally, the name means 'Bearer of Christ'.

"I have been told that all who bear the somewhat rare name of Christopherson hail from Furness, in North Lancashire. Anyway it is a native, and owes its origin to the treacherous sands of Morecombe and Duddon. The legend of St. Christopher is that he found an occupation in guiding passengers across a wide stream. One night he bare unawares the child Christ, and was about to sink under an ever-increasing weight, when the Saviour said, 'Thou bearest Him who beareth the sins of the world.' No doubt there would be a shrine to the Saint for belated travellers on Chapel Isle, opposite Conishead Priory. Many a babe would be dedicated to him in gratitude for some hairbreadth escape his father had experienced. " 1

Early Origins of the Christophers family

The surname Christophers was first found in North Lancashire at Furness (now known as Dalton-In-Furness. "The town derived its principal importance from the erection of the magnificent Abbey of Furness, founded in 1127, by Stephen, afterwards king of England, for monks of the Cistercian order, whom he removed from Tulketh, in Amounderness, to this valley, where, obtaining valuable grants, they continued for more than four centuries. " 2

Early History of the Christophers family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Christophers research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1225, 1245, 1295, 1558, 1613 and 1659 are included under the topic Early Christophers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Christophers Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Christophers family name include Christopher, Cristopher and others.

Early Notables of the Christophers family

Distinguished members of the family include

John Christopherson (d. 1558), Bishop of Chichester, "a native of Ulverstone in Lancashire, and was educated in the university of Cambridge, first at Pembroke Hall, and then at St. John's College, und...
Michael Christopherson (fl. 1613), was an English Catholic divine who received his education in the English college of Douay. 3

Migration of the Christophers family to Ireland

Some of the Christophers family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Christophers migration to the United States +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Christophers surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Christophers Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas S Christophers, who landed in New York, NY in 1836 4

Christophers Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Sydney E Christophers, aged 2, who landed in America from Penzance, in 1906
Emily Christophers, aged 28, who settled in America from Crowan, England, in 1909
Catherine M. Christophers, aged 1, who landed in America from Helston, England, in 1910
Mabel Annie Christophers, aged 26, who landed in America from Helston, England, in 1910
Richard Hy. Christophers, aged 2, who immigrated to America from Helston, England, in 1910
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Christophers migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Christophers Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Samuel Christophers, Cornish convict who was convicted in Cornwall, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Augusta Jessie" on 27 September 1834, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
Willim H. Christophers, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Thetis" 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Christophers (post 1700) +

Philip Derek "Phil" Christophers (b. 1980), German-born, English rugby union player
Richard Henry Tudor "Harry" Christophers CBE (b. 1953), English conductor from Goudhurst, Kent
Ben Christophers (b. 1969), English musician from Wolverhampton, West Midlands; as of 2018, he has released five albums
Philip Martin Christophers (1871-1946), Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1921 to 1930
Sarah Christophers (b. 1986), Australian-born, Filipino actress
Brevet Colonel Sir Samuel Rickard Christophers CIE, OBE, FRS (1873-1978), English protozoologist and medical entomologist specialising in mosquitoes from Liverpool

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/augusta-jessie
South Australian Register Friday 1st September 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Emigrant 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/thetis1854.shtml