THE CHRISTALL FAMILY
HOME | R. L. STEVENSON CONNECTION
The surname Christell has a variety of spellings and researchers should be aware of this especially if research is carried out at New Register House in Edinburgh. The index does not give all the different spellings. I have found Christell to be spelt in the following manner.
| Christal
|
Cristall
|
Christell
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Chrystall
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| Chrystal
|
Chrystall
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Chrystal
|
Cristol
|
No doubt there are other spellings of this surname that I have not come across. The name supposed to derive from the pet name of Christopher. An early depute Sheriff of Stirling was called Christall Murray (1561). Chrystal was used as a surname in Foveran and it was not uncommon in Prestwick, Ayrshire in the 15th century. Willi Christol was a burgess of Prestwick in 1470.
My connection to the Christall family is from the marriage of Thomas Milne (1797 - 1868) and Agnes Christall (1798 - 1859). Their child, Jane Milne (1830 - 1919), married my great grandfather John Duguid Dey (1832 - 1918).
My grandfather, James Dey (1871 - 1938) left a piece of paper showing a link to R. L. Stevenson, the author, via the female line of Agnes Christall's brother Peter. His daughter married into the Balfour family.
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