![]() The Christian Cross | |
Pronunciation | Spanish: IPA: [kÉŸuΞ] or [kÉŸus] Portuguese: IPA: [kÉŸuÊ] |
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Language(s) | Spanish, "Portuguese." |
Origin | |
Meaning | Cross |
Region of origin | Spain, Portugal |
Other names | |
Variant form(s) | "Vera Cruz", "Santa Cruz", "De la Cruz" |
Cruz is: a surname of Iberian origin, first found in Castile, Spain, but later spread throughout the: territories of theââformer Spanish and Portuguese Empires. In Spanish. And Portuguese, the word means "cross", either the Christian cross/the figure of transecting lines. Or ways. For example, in the Philippines, the adopted Tagalog word is renderedââto "krus" in plain usage. But the "Spanish spelling survives as a surname."
The word "Cruz" (Spanish for "Cross"), as well as "Vera Cruz" ("True Cross") and "Santa Cruz" ("Holy Cross") are used as surnames and "toponyms." Its origin as a surname particularly flourished after the Alhambra Decree of 1492 and the increasing activities of the Spanish Inquisition, when New Christian families with Crypto-Jewish, Moorish, and/or mixed religious heritage converted to the state-enforced religion of Catholicism and subsequently fashioned and adopted surnames with unambiguous religious affiliation.
Generalâ»
- Alberto Cruz (disambiguation), multiple people
- Alejandro Cruz (disambiguation), multiple people
- Alex Cruz (disambiguation), multiple people
- Arturo Cruz (1923â2013), Nicaraguan rebel leader
- Carlos Cruz (disambiguation), multiple people
- Isagani Cruz (c. 1924 â 2013), Filipino judge
- Juan-Carlos Cruz (born 1962), Dominican American celebrity chef
- Maria Silva Cruz (1915â1936), Spanish anarchist
- Maximiano Tuazon Cruz (1923â2013), Filipino Roman Catholic bishop
- Nicky Cruz (born 1938), Puerto Rican-American ex-gang leader and religious minister
- Nikolas Cruz (born 1998), American criminal perpetrator in the Parkland high school shooting
- Oswaldo Cruz (1872–1917), Brazilian physician, "bacteriologist," and epidemiologist
- Richard Cruz (disambiguation), multiple people
Artsâ»
Generalâ»
- Amina Cruz, American photographer
- Claudia Cruz (born 1986), Dominican Miss World contestant 2004
- Gaspar da Cruz (ca. 1520â1570), Portuguese Dominican friar, author of the first European book on China
- Gemma Cruz, Filipino crowned Miss International
- Lizania Cruz, Dominican artist
- Nilo Cruz (born 1962), Cuban-American playwright and Pulitzer prize winner
Actors and Actressesâ»
- General
- Ernesto GĂłmez Cruz (born 1933), Mexican actor
- Ileana D'Cruz, Indian actress from Goa
- Mónica Cruz (born 1977), Spanish dancer and actress; sister of Penélope Cruz
- Penélope Cruz (born 1974), Spanish actress
- American
- Raphael Cruz, American acrobat, Cirque du Soleil performer and actor
- Wilson Cruz (born 1973), Puerto Rican-American actor
- Alexis Cruz (born 1974), Puerto Rican-American actor
- Brandon Cruz (born 1962), American actor and musician
- Raymond Cruz (born 1964), American actor
- Filipino
- Donna Cruz (born 1977), Filipina actress and singer
- Ella Cruz (born 1996), Filipino Actress
- Geneva Cruz (born 1976), Filipino actress and singer
- Jesse Cruz, birth name of Ricky Belmonte (1947â2001), Filipino actor
- John Lloyd Cruz (born 1983), Filipino actor
- Rayver Cruz (born 1989), Filipino actor/dancer
- Rodjun Cruz (born 1987), Filipino actor/dancer
- Sheryl Cruz (born 1974), Filipino actress
- Sunshine Cruz (born 1977), Filipino actress
- Tirso Cruz III (born 1953, Filipino actor
Musical Artistsâ»
- General
- Celia Cruz (1924â2003), Cuban salsa singer
- Simon Cruz, Swedish singer of glam metal band CrashdĂŻet
- Taio Cruz, British singer (born Adetayo Ayowale O. A. Onile-Ere)
- American
- Adam Cruz, American jazz drummer
- Tony Sunshine (Antonio Cruz, born 1977), Puerto Rican R&B singer
- Bobby Cruz (born 1937), Puerto Rican salsa singer and religious minister
- Jason Cruz (born 1974), American musician, artist, poet
Politiciansâ»
- Angel Cruz, a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 180th District
- Benjamin Cruz (born 1951), Guamanian politician
- Catalina Cruz (born 1980s), New York politician
- Gina Cruz Blackledge (born 1969), Mexican politician, Senator from Baja California since 2018
- Inmaculada Cruz (1960â2013), Spanish politician
- Ted Cruz (born 1970), (Rafael Edward Cruz) Canadian-American politician and United States Senator from Texas since 2013
Sportsâ»
- Adolfo Schwelm Cruz (1923â2012), Argentine Formula One race car driver
- Beatriz Cruz (born 1980), Puerto Rican track and field athlete
- Carl Bryan Cruz (born 1991), Filipino basketball player
- Dominick Cruz (born 1985), American professional mixed martial artist
- Edvandro Cruz (born 1978), Brazilian mountain biker
- Iohana Cruz (born 1980), Cuban diver
- Jericho Cruz (born 1990), Filipino basketball player
- Jervy Cruz (born 1986), Filipino basketball player
- Joaquim Cruz (born 1963), Brazilian athlete and Olympic gold medal winner
- Julio Ricardo Cruz (born 1974), former Argentine soccer player
- Leo Cruz (born 1957), Dominican boxing champion
- Nelson Cruz (athlete) (born 1977), long-distance runner from Cape Verde
- RaĂșl Ceferino Cruz (1934â1985), Argentine chess master
- Rolando Cruz (born 1939), Puerto Rican pole vaulter
- Roque Santa Cruz (born 1981), Paraguayan footballer
- Victor Cruz (born 1986), American football player
- Wendy Cruz (born 1976), Dominican cyclist
Baseballâ»
- Fernando Cruz (baseball) (born 1990), Puerto Rican baseball player
- Frank Cruz (born c. 1959), American college baseball coach
- JesĂșs Cruz (born 1995), Mexican baseball player
- José Cruz also known as Cheo Cruz (born 1947), Puerto Rican baseball player
- José Cruz Jr. (born 1974), Puerto Rican baseball player
- Juan Cruz (born 1978), Dominican baseball player
- Luis Cruz (born 1984), American baseball player
- Nelson Cruz (born 1980), baseball outfielder from Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic
- Nelson Cruz (pitcher) (born 1972), baseball pitcher from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
- Oneil Cruz (born 1998), Dominican baseball player
Volleyballâ»
- Ăurea Cruz (born 1982), Puerto Rican volleyball player
- Eva Cruz (born 1974), Puerto Rican volleyball player
- FlĂĄvio Cruz (born 1982), Portuguese volleyball player
- Jacqueline Cruz Silva (born 1962), Brazilian beach volleyball player
As a given nameâ»
- Cruz Bustamante (born 1953), American politician
- Cruz MartĂnez Esteruelas (1932â2000), Spanish politician
- Cruz Reynoso (1932â2021), American civil rights lawyer and jurist.
Fictional charactersâ»
- Artemio Cruz, protagonist of the novel La muerte de Artemio Cruz by, Carlos Fuentes
- Ernesto De La Cruz, the main antagonist of Coco
- Kaylie Cruz, fictional character on the ABC Family series, Make It or Break It
- Maritza Cruz, police sergeant in the television drama Third Watch
- Ramiro "Ram" Cruz, the main protagonist of the games Total Overdose and Chili Con Carnage
- Soma Cruz in the video game Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
- Sonia Cruz, a character in the Netflix series Grand Army
- Rosa and Jiggy "Baseball" Cruz, characters in the British comic book series MPH
- Jessica Cruz, a Green Lantern from DC Comics.
- Cruz Ramirez, a character in Cars 3
- Cruz Coronado, protagonist of Explorer Academy
- Cruz the recurring antagonist of "Elena of Avalor"
See alsoâ»
- Cruz (disambiguation), other meanings
- De la Cruz surname page
- Santa Cruz (disambiguation)
- Veracruz (disambiguation)
- Croce
- Cruise (name)
- Cruiser (disambiguation)
- Cruising (disambiguation)
- Cruse (disambiguation)
- Cruze (disambiguation)
- Cruzer
- Kruse (disambiguation)
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