Skip to main content

Updated June 9, 2019

Family name origins & meanings

  • German : humanistic name adopted in the early 16th century by Pankratius Chelius, Lutheran pastor of Oberwiddersheim, Hesse. His original German name was Kiste, a metonymic occupational name for a maker of chests or boxes.

Join the Family

Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning.

Subscribe