Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Chris” come from?

Chris (English) comes from English Christine, from French Christine, from German Christkind, from German Christ, from Middle High German kristen, from Old High German kristāni, from Latin Christiānus, from Latin Chrīstus — to rub; to stroke; to grind.

Ancestry of “Chris”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishChristine—
2FrenchChristine—
3GermanChristkindChrist Child
4GermanChrista Christian; Christ
5Middle High Germankristen—
6Old High Germankristāni—
7LatinChristiānus—
8LatinChrīstus—
9Ancient GreekΧριστόςanointed; messiah; annointed, the annointed one,...
10Ancient Greekχρίωto smear with , rub on something; to anoint with...
11Proto-Indo-Europeangʰrēy-to smear; to paint, streak, smear
12Proto-Indo-Europeangʰer-to rub; to stroke; to grind

Words derived from “Chris”

  • Chrissy
  • クリス
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰer- →