What was used to light candles before matches?

A splint, lit from a fire.

Maybe a lighter ? 

I actually read that lighters were invented BEFORE matches ! Isn't that a thing ? 

Most homes at that time never let the fire go completely out in the kitchen, since it was used for all cooking.  Between meals, the coals were banked to keep them smoldering.  Candles could easily be lit from tinder ignited by those banked coals.

Another method used if existing coals weren't available was flint and steel.