FastNamesCruz Surname
Spanish surname meaning "Topographic and devotional surname derived from Spanish and Portuguese cruz ('cross', from Latin crux), referring to one who lived near a roadside cross or crossroads, or bestowed in religious devotion.". Ranked 57th in the United States with 334,201 recorded bearers in the 2010 Census (113.3 per 100,000 Americans).
Meaning and origin of the surname Cruz
Topographic and devotional surname derived from Spanish and Portuguese cruz ('cross', from Latin crux), referring to one who lived near a roadside cross or crossroads, or bestowed in religious devotion.
Historically and linguistically, Cruz belongs to the Spanish family of surnames. It is conventionally pronounced "KROOZ".
United States Census frequency and ranking
In the official 2010 United States Census, Cruz was recorded 334,201 times, ranking as the 57th most common surname in the nation.
This represents an incidence rate of approximately 113.30 bearers per 100,000 Americans, or roughly 1 out of every 883 residents.
Race and ethnicity distribution
According to official decennial Census genealogy microdata, individuals bearing the surname Cruzreported the following racial and ethnic affiliations in the 2010 US Census:
| Racial or ethnic group | Share of bearers |
|---|---|
| White | 5.17% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 87.88% |
| Black or African American | 0.80% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | 5.19% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.27% |
| Two or more races | 0.70% |
Source: US Census Bureau, 2010 Census Surnames Data. Percentages may not sum to exactly 100% due to independent rounding or suppression of small cell counts for privacy protection.
History of the surname Cruz
Cruz is an Iberian surname of profound religious and geographic origins, derived directly from the Spanish and Portuguese word cruz (from Latin crux, 'cross'). In medieval Iberia, roadside stone crucifixes and Calvary markers frequently stood at crossroads, parish boundaries, and pilgrimage routes such as the Camino de Santiago, leading to the name being applied topographically to persons residing adjacent to these landmarks.
Additionally, Cruz was adopted as a devotional baptismal name (de la Cruz, 'of the Cross') during Christian religious feast days such as the Feast of the Holy Cross (May 3 and September 14), celebrated by mystical figures including Saint John of the Cross (San Juan de la Cruz, 1542–1591). It was also assumed by new Christians following religious conversion throughout the Iberian Peninsula and across the Spanish Empire.
Cruz spread across the Americas, the Caribbean, and the Philippines under Spanish imperial governance. In the 2010 United States Census, Cruz ranked 57th nationwide with 334,201 recorded individuals, with 87.88% identifying as Hispanic or Latino and 5.19% as Asian and Pacific Islander (predominantly Filipino Americans).
Notable people with the surname Cruz
- Penélope Cruz (1974–), Academy Award-winning Spanish actress
- Celia Cruz (1925–2003), Iconic Cuban singer known as the 'Queen of Salsa'
- Ted Cruz (1970–), American politician and United States Senator from Texas
- Victor Cruz (1986–), Former American football wide receiver and Super Bowl champion
Variants and related surnames
Spelling variants
Related surnames
Sources and references
- Patrick Hanks, Richard Coates, Peter McClure. The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland (2016), p. 627.
- Roberto Faure, María Asunción Ribas, Antonio García. Diccionario de apellidos españoles (2001), p. 256.
- U.S. Census Bureau. 2010 Census Surnames Data (2016). Reference link.