Christensen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Christensen surname is a patronymic created from the personal name Christen, which comes ultimately from the Latin Christianus "follower of Christ".
Early Origins of the Christensen family
The surname Christensen was first found in Denmark, where the name contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation which would later play a large role in the tribal and national conflicts of the area. In later years the name branched into many houses, each playing a significant role in the local social and political affairs. Christensen is also connected to several place names in Denmark. Both main branches of this family name were elected to the nobility. While the surname can be of multiple origins, today there are twice as many that call Denmark their homeland versus Norway.
Early History of the Christensen family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Christensen research. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Christensen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Christensen Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Christenson, Christensen, Christiansen, Christinsen, Cristensen, Cristenson and many more.
Early Notables of the Christensen family
Notables of the time included
- the Christensen family of Denmark
Christensen World Ranking
In the United States, the name Christensen is the 435th most popular surname with an estimated 64,662 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Christensen is ranked the 835th most popular surname with an estimated 6,409 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Christensen is the 673rd popular surname with an estimated 5,815 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks Christensen as 393rd with 1,661 people. 4
Christensen migration to the United States +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Christensen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Hans Christensen, aged 14, who arrived in New York, NY in 1840 5
- Neil Christensen, aged 13, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1848 5
- Elling Christensen, aged 43, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1850 5
- Anna Christensen, who arrived in Minnesota in 1867 5
- Chr Nicholi Christensen, who arrived in New York, NY in 1869 5
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Christensen Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Lewis Christensen, who arrived in Wisconsin in 1912 5
- Andens Christensen, who was naturalized in Wisconsin in 1914
- Hans Christensen, who immigrated to Colorado in 1920 with his wife Marie and his children Justina, John, Francis, Agnes, and Louis
- Andrew Christensen, who landed in Wisconsin in 1920 5
- Hans Marino Christensen, who landed in Alabama in 1920 5
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Christensen migration to New Zealand +
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:
Christensen Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Peter Christian Christensen, aged 31, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Halcione" in 1870 6
- Johanna Christensen, aged 27, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Halcione" in 1870 6
- Niels C. Christensen, aged 29, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Halcione" in 1870 6
- Magdalena Christensen, aged 33, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Halcione" in 1870 6
- Mads Peter Christensen, aged 6, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Halcione" in 1870 6
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name Christensen (post 1700) +
- Bruce L. Christensen (1943-2022), American television executive, President of KSL-TV and Senior Vice President of Bonneville International Corporation, CEO of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
- Leland G. Christensen (1959-2022), American politician, Republican member of the Wyoming Senate, representing the 17th district from 2011 until 2019
- Joe Junior Christensen (1929-2021), American president of Ricks College (1985 to 1989) and a general authority in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1989 until his death
- William H. Christensen, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Barbados, 1943; U.S. Consul in Martinique, 1947
- Will Christensen, American politician, Representative from Utah 3rd District, 1998; Constitution Candidate for President of the United States, 2012
- Walter Christensen, American politician, Mayor of Sacramento, California, 1966-67
- Walter Christensen (1910-1979), American politician, Member of North Dakota State House of Representatives, 1961-66; North Dakota State Treasurer, 1965-68, 1973-79
- V. S. Christensen, American politician, Mayor of Cheyenne, Wyoming, 1954
- Troy Christensen, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Texas, 2012
- Sofus W. Christensen, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 1st District, 1928, 1930; Candidate for New York State Senate 1st District, 1932, 1938; Candidate for Mayor of Valley Stream, New York, 1937
- ... (Another 61 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Historic Events for the Christensen family +
USS Arizona
- Mr. Elmer Emil Christensen, American Machinist's Mate First Class from Wyoming, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 7
- Mr. Lloyd Raymond Christensen, American Fireman First Class from Nebraska, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 7
Citations +
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
- "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
- "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
- 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)
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
- Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html