Unraveling the truth behind the correct spelling of LEGO founder's surname: Kristiansen or Christiansen? Explore the history and meaning of this iconic name.
The Great LEGO Surname Debate
Last weekend, I threw a simple question to entertain the crowd: how is the surname of the LEGO company’s founding father correctly spelled? Opinions were split evenly — some argued for "Ch" reflecting the original Greek root, while others insisted on the "K" spelling, favoring English conventions. So, what’s the real story?
Birth Certificate Holds the Key
As we can see, Ole Kirk Kristiansen’s birth certificate spells the surname with "Ch", which in Russian would sound like Hans Christian Andersen’s name or even Jesus Christ — that is, with an "H" sound. This is because English phonetic rules regarding the "Ch" sound in Greek words don't apply here, where it sounds like "K". According to the company’s official website, there’s a straightforward explanation:
“However, it was common practice for the surname Kristiansen to be spelled with either Ch or K – and Ole Kirk Kristiansen did indeed use both versions, although mostly the Ch style.”
LEGO Campus Card Explains the Mystery
The same explanation appears on the back of the rare and fascinating LEGO Campus souvenir card. This isn’t news to LEGO history buffs — I’ve browsed through several books on LEGO’s history, including the latest published in 2022 by Jens Andersen during the company’s 90th anniversary, which repeats the story without much elaboration.
Ole Kirk’s Preference: The “Ch” vs. “K” Dilemma
The least convincing argument in this theory is that Ole Kirk himself preferred spelling his surname with “Ch” during his lifetime.
Let me start from a bit further back. Have you heard of KIRKBI? It’s an investment holding company owning 75% of The LEGO Group, nothing particularly curious.
What Does A/S OKK Mean?
Notice the marking in the top left corner of this financial document and others — A/S OKK. The first part, Aktie Selskab, is the Danish equivalent of a Stock Company, somewhat between a joint-stock company and partnership.
The “OKK” unmistakably refers to Ole Kirk Kristiansen’s name. You might wonder why LEGO was founded in 1932, yet these documents date several decades later and carry a strange company name. It’s not unusual if you know that O. Kirk Kristiansen A/S was LEGO’s investment holding company between 1946 and 1974, much like KIRKBI today. I even have photos of newspaper clippings from Registreringstidende covering that period, where all company registry records were kept — akin to a business gazette.
Historical Insight from Jens Andersen
Jens Andersen writes in his book:
“Due to increased turnover in 1946, the company decided to split the business and founded the subsidiary ‘A/S O. Kirk Kristiansen,’ which would focus solely on production, while the parent company (LEGO) handled all sales and marketing.”
I won’t argue with this recognized LEGO historian, though some researchers disagree. The key point: Ole Kirk openly used both surname spellings, but the “K” version contradicts official sources claiming both versions were equally used by the founder.
A Stamp and Collector’s Archive
Similarly, Ole Kirk’s official stamp, preserved by the well-known American collector Samuel James Burckhardt, shows the surname spelling with "Ch". Burckhardt mistakenly limited the stamp’s use to the 1950s and publicly noted Ole Kirk and his son Godtfred preferred "Ch", though Godtfred sometimes used "K" for unknown reasons.
By the early 1980s, Godtfred officially changed the spelling on his birth certificate to the now-familiar Kristiansen. I wouldn’t attribute this to American influence — the Kristiansen family remains traditionally Danish. The LEGO Group and its manager KIRKBI are still family businesses, even though some board members are hired professionals.
Godtfred deserves credit for LEGO’s worldwide appeal as we know it today, and his contribution goes far beyond his name — which, by the way, appears with “Ch” in patent documents.
Ole Kirk’s Grave and the “Ch” Spelling
At Ole Kirk’s grave, the “Ch” spelling appears again — exactly as written on his birth certificate.
Diving Deeper Into the Name Confusion
Ready to dive deeper into this mystery? It’s trickier than it seems.
To understand, we must explore Northern European culture. Godtfred officially changed his surname in 1980, reflected even in church birth registers. But at birth, he was named Godtfred Kirk Christiansen. Why?
Denmark has unusual naming laws:
- Parents can only choose names from a list of 7,000.
- Names must indicate the child’s gender.
- Unusual spellings are prohibited.
- Surnames cannot be used as first names.
- Names must conform to Danish orthography.
These laws protect children from odd names that could subject them to mistreatment, ensure gender clarity, and protect rare or noble Danish surnames.
Old Danish Naming Traditions
In the past, Danes mostly had single-syllable first names, like Jens (the book author mentioned earlier). The royal family and nobility used family surnames, but common folk used a clever system – nicknames or patronymics.
For example:
- Jens Thomsen’s son would be Niels Jensen (“-sen” meaning son of Jens).
- A daughter would be Bettina Jensdatter (“-datter” meaning daughter of Jens).
Additionally, Danes sometimes used surnames based on geography: someone living near a forest might adopt the surname Lund.
Legal Changes and Modern Surnames
By 1500, the royal family realized Denmark needed laws for identifying its population. The reform was tough for northern peoples like the Danes, who resisted change — even clergy opposed it.
By 1800, everyone had to use the “-sen” suffix as a patronymic surname, and by the late 1800s, families were required to use a stable surname.
By the early 1900s, the royal family introduced laws allowing surname changes, which Godtfred utilized to switch to Kristiansen.
Family Surname Choices
Godtfred’s son Kjeld, born in December 1947, adopted the “K” spelling. Could this be just because Ole Kirk used both Kristiansen and Christiansen? A sensible explanation is both versions sound the same in Danish, and back when Ole Kirk was a child, many Danes were uneducated.
The founder’s records show he used “Ch” mainly because it was on his birth certificate, never officially changing it.
Birth Certificate Oddities
Examining Ole Kirk’s birth certificate closely, the “Ch” spelling appears almost like a clerical error. His father was Kristian Jens, so Ole Kirk took his father’s name as his surname per Danish tradition, spelled with “K”. But official paperwork is a mess.
International Context
For international English-speaking contacts, using “Ch” would have been easier, as “Christmas” is a familiar word. Godtfred admitted this spelling was used in documents before he changed his surname.
Godtfred inherited the “Ch” spelling from Ole Kirk, likely due to clerical miswriting by church officials, but it resembled the Christmas spelling more closely. No other reasons explain the discrepancy.
The True Danish Roots
The use of “K” clearly reflects authentic Danish roots, where “Ch” was never native. This usage unites the family, highlighting their common ancestor — Ole Kirk’s father.
From what I gather, the LEGO company’s history department in Billund justified this decision, and the Kristiansen family is even studied at Copenhagen University, where the name sounds as Kristiansen, not Christiansen.
Interestingly, “Kirk” is a middle name, not a surname, but for this family, it carries the same weight as the surname — which, even at Copenhagen University, is pronounced Kristiansen.
“However, it was common practice for the surname Kristiansen to be spelled with either Ch or K – and Ole Kirk Kristiansen did indeed use both versions, although mostly the Ch style.”
— LEGO official website
Conclusion
So, which spelling is correct: Kristiansen or Christiansen? The answer isn’t black and white. Both have historical basis, but “Kristiansen” with a “K” reflects the family’s Danish heritage and legal traditions, while “Christiansen” with “Ch” stems from historical spelling variations and early clerical records.
What do you think — does the spelling truly matter, or is it the legacy behind the name that counts most?
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does the surname Kristiansen mean?
It is a patronymic meaning "son of Kristian," following Danish naming traditions. - Why did Ole Kirk Kristiansen use two different spellings?
Due to historical spelling variations, clerical inconsistencies, and evolving naming laws in Denmark. - Is Kristiansen the official LEGO family name?
Yes, today the family and company use “Kristiansen” with a “K” reflecting Danish tradition. - Did Godtfred Kristiansen change his surname?
Yes, he officially changed it to the “K” spelling in 1980. - What is KIRKBI?
KIRKBI is the investment company owning 75% of The LEGO Group, originally connected to Ole Kirk Kristiansen.
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