This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Kris family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Kris Family History

Kris Surname Meaning

Slovak (Kriš rarely Kríš): variant of Križ or Kríž (see Kriz). Americanized form of Slovenian and Croatian Križ, Czech Kříž (see Kriz), and related Slovak names (see above). Compare Krish.

American shortened (and altered) form of Bulgarian and Macedonian Kristov (see Kristoff) and of some other related Slavic surnames beginning with Kris-, Kriš-, Kriz-, Križ-, or Krst- (see e.g. Kristof, Krizan, and Krstic). Compare Chris, Criss, and Kriss.

Jewish (from Ukraine and southeastern Poland): perhaps a nickname or a metonymic occupational name from Ukrainian kris ‘flint lock, firelock’. Alternatively, it could be a nickname from Polish krys ‘end, limit’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kris family from?

You can see how Kris families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kris family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1861 and 1920. The most Kris families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 2 Kris families living in London. This was 100% of all the recorded Kris's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Kris families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kris surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Kris ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Kris. 100% of Kris women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Kris | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    100%

What Kris family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Kris. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kris census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kris

Passenger Lists

There are 828 immigration records available for the last name Kris. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Kris immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 212 military records available for the last name Kris. For the veterans among your Kris ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kris military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kris family history

Discover More

What is the average Kris lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2003, in the United States, Kris life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2002, and highest in 1986. The average life expectancy for Kris in 1963 was 73, and 80 in 2003.

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kris ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Kris family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial