| ![Show Contents]() Christy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of ChristyWhat does the name Christy mean? The ancestors of the Christy family were part of an ancient Scottish tribe called the Picts. The name Christy is derived from Christopher or perhaps from Christian. "Christie and Christy are all but invariably North English or Border surnames, Christian being a former favourite font-name in those districts. It is still a popular girl's name in the Scottish Lowlands." 1 Early Origins of the Christy familyThe surname Christy was first found in Edinburghshire, a former county, now part of the Midlothian council area where they held a family seat at Carvant. By 1296 they had moved northward to Stirlingshire and there is a section of the Stirling Antiquary called "the Christies and their doings." 2 "The surname is very common in Fife, which indeed seems to have been an early home of the name. In a charter dated 13th July 1457, granted by the abbot of Lindores to the burgh of Newburgh, John Chrysty appears as a burgess. John Chryste was admitted burgess of Aberdeen in 1530. Sir Robert Criste, presbyter, witness in Fife, 1547." 2 As one would expect early records also show the family across the northern border of England, specifically: Thomas Crysty who was listed in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1412. 3 Early History of the Christy familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Christy research. Another 235 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1476, 1541, 1565, 1569, 1582, 1590, 1597, 1602, 1605, 1612, 1634, 1688, 1710, 1730, 1748, 1761, 1766, 1773, 1774, 1784, 1796, 1797, 1800, 1803, 1810, 1816, 1823, 1829, 1831, 1838, 1840, 1865, 1874 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Christy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Christy Spelling VariationsThe appearance of the printing press and the first dictionaries in the last few hundred years did much to standardize spelling. Prior to that time scribes spelled according to sound, a practice that resulted in many spelling variations. Christy has been spelled Christie, Chrystie, Chrysty, Christy, McChristie, McChristy, Christe, Christi and many more. Early Notables of the Christy familyNotable amongst the Clan at this time was Hugh Christie (1710-1774), Scottish school-master and grammarian, the third son of Alexander Christie, great-uncle of William Christie, Unitarian writer [q. v.] He was born at Garvock, Kincardineshire, in 1710, and educated at King's College, Aberdeen, where he took the degree of M.A. in 1730. Soon after taking his degree he was a pointed rector of the grammar school of Brechin, an office which-the held until he was elected rector of the grammar school of Montrose, where he remained until his death (1774)James Christie, the Elder (1730-1803), English auctioneer, resigned a commission in the...
Another 272 words (19 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Christy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Christy RankingIn the United States, the name Christy is the 2,388th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 4 Migration of the Christy family to IrelandSome of the Christy 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.
| Christy migration to the United States | + |
The expense of the crossing to the North American colonies seemed small beside the difficulties of remaining in Scotland. It was a long and hard trip, but at its end lay the reward of freedom. Some Scots remained faithful to England and called themselves United Empire Loyalists, while others fought in the American War of Independence. Much of this lost Scottish heritage has been recovered in the last century through Clan societies and other patriotic Scottish organizations. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important, early immigrants to North America bearing the name of Christy:
Christy Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- John Christy, who landed in Maryland in 1672 5
Christy Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Mary Christy, who landed in New York in 1738 5
- Alexander Christy, who landed in New York in 1738 5
- James Christy, aged 59, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1774 5
Christy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Archibald Christy, who landed in America in 1811 5
- Charles Christy, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1812 5
- William Christy, aged 21, who arrived in Delaware in 1813 5
- Adam Christy, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 5
- Robert Christy, who landed in New York NY in 1816 5
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Christy migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Christy Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- Mr. George Christy U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 member of the Cape Ann Association 6
- Mr. Jesse Christy U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 member of the Cape Ann Association 6
- Mr. John Christy U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 member of the Cape Ann Association 6
- Mr. John Christy Jr., U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 member of the Cape Ann Association 6
- Mr. Peter Christy U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 member of the Cape Ann Association 6
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Christy Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century- Stewart Christy, who landed in Canada in 1831
- Jane Christy, aged 21, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Condor" in 1838
| Christy migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Christy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
| Christy 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: Christy Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Mr. David Christy, (b. 1848), aged 22, British farm labourer travelling from London aboard the ship 'Merope' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 27th October 1870 7
| Contemporary Notables of the name Christy (post 1700) | + |
- Paul Christy (1939-2021), born Paul Christerson, an American professional wrestler
- Willard L. Christy, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly 8th District, 2000 8
- Wilfred Christy, American politician, U.S. Consular Agent in Tamsui, 1884; Keelung, 1884 8
- Lyman A. Christy, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Havana, 1917 8
- Perry Christy, American Republican politician, Member of Michigan Republican State Central Committee, 1979 8
- Lloyd B. Christy, American politician, Mayor of Phoenix, Arizona, 1909-14 8
- Joseph H. Christy, American politician, Member of Missouri State House of Representatives from Lafayette County, 1907-08 8
- John G. Christy, American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Jefferson City, Missouri, 1963-73 8
- John G. Christy (b. 1897), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Missouri State House of Representatives from Jefferson County, 1933-40; Speaker of the Missouri State House of Representatives, 1935-40 8
- George Christy, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Arizona Territory, 1900 8
- ... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Historic Events for the Christy family | + |
- Mrs. Alice Frances Christy, aged 45, English Second Class passenger from London, England who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 12 9
- Miss Rachel Julie Cohen Christy, aged 25, English Second Class passenger from London, England who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 12 9
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Sic viresco
Motto Translation: Thus I flourish
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 25) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
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