Christiansen is a Danish and Norwegian patronymic surname, meaning "son of Christian". As a patronymic, it was originally a given name passed down to indicate lineage, later becoming a fixed hereditary surname.Etymology and HistoryThe root name Christian derives from the medieval Latin Christianus, meaning "a Christian" (related to Christos, Greek for "anointed"). Ten kings of Denmark have borne the name Christian since the 15th century, which contributed to the proliferation of patronymic surnames like Christiansen in Scandinavia.DistributionChristiansen is among the most common surnames in Denmark and Norway. In Denmark, it ranks as the 16th surname and is shared by less than 1% of the population. The variant Kristiansen has identical pronunciation and is even more frequent. In Norway, the spelling Kristiansen is more widely used, while Christiansen remains present.Immigrants to English-speaking countries often anglicized the spelling to Christianson or Kristianson.Notable BearersAnders Baasmo Christiansen (born 1976), Norwegian actorArthur Christiansen (1904–1963), British journalist, former editor of the Daily ExpressTom Christiansen, American auteur who made the film "A Guest in the Land of Dempsey's"Related NamesVariants exist in other languages: in Macedonian, Hristov and Hristova correspond to the male and female forms. In English, the abbreviations Christians and Christianson also exist.Key FactsMeaning: "son of Christian"Origin: Scadinavian patronymic (Danish, Norwegian)Type: Surname (patronymic)Usage Regions: Denmark, Norway, and diaspora