This Kriss Foundation site explores family history in the context of cultural and political events.
Media
We are continually adding photographs, documents, and audio media relating to our family history. Please email new digital images or other media you wish to share. Our goal is to digitize the entire existing collection of 1880-1950 materials for future generations.
Genealogy Online
The interactive online genealogy, powered by Webtrees, covers over 2700 relatives in more than 1000 family groups. To view living family members, please register.
Selected Surname Origins
Kriss
Russian spelling variant from the Czech Kriz. Also spelled Kris, Kryss, and Krys. Probably derived from kriein meaning to anoint, linked to the Hebrew mashiach meaning messiah. Implied meaning may be 'one who will anoint the messiah' or 'anointed one'. This suggests the ancient Jewish tradition whereby the priestly Cohanim class is vested with the responsibility of anointing those direct descendents of King David as the messiah. The latter usage eventually evolved into the name Christian, probably first introduced in the early middle ages in France, and through the Norman conquest, into England. Also likely to be metronymic in origin among Ashkenazic Jews. Recently of Czech or Russian Ashkenazic Jewish origin, but earlier derived from French through Hebrew influences. Surname probably predates 1700. Non-Jewish derivation is probably a variant of Swiss German Kries, an Alemannic form of Kirsch (a cherry).