Find out how popular the last name Cruz is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Cruz.

Cruz, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Cruz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cruz in America

Cruz is the 57th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cruz surname appeared 334,201 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 113 people would have the surname Cruz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cruz to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Cruz

The surname Cruz originated in Spain and Portugal during the medieval period. It is derived from the Spanish and Portuguese word "cruz," meaning "cross." This term likely had religious connotations, as the cross was an important symbol in Christianity.

In Spain, the name Cruz first appeared in the early 13th century, particularly in regions like Galicia, Asturias, and Castile. It may have been adopted by individuals who lived near a significant cross or chapel, or by those who worked as cross makers or carvers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Cruz surname can be found in the Libro de las Behetrías de Castilla, a 14th-century manuscript that documented properties and landowners in the region. This suggests that the name was well-established by that time.

A notable historical figure with the surname Cruz was Gaspar da Cruz (1520-1570), a Portuguese Dominican friar and author who traveled to Asia and wrote extensively about his experiences in regions like China and Japan.

Another famous individual was Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (1651-1695), a renowned Mexican poet, philosopher, and scholar of the Baroque period, known for her exceptional literary works and her advocacy for women's rights.

In the 16th century, the Cruz surname spread to the Americas with Spanish and Portuguese colonization. For example, Juan de la Cruz (1542-1591) was a Spanish Catholic priest and mystic who lived in Mexico and is now venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.

The name also appeared in places like the Philippines, where the Spanish had a significant influence. One notable bearer was Pedro Calungsod (1654-1672), a Filipino Catholic martyr and saint who was canonized in 2012.

In the 19th century, Teodoro Cruz (1835-1904) was a prominent Venezuelan journalist, writer, and political figure who served as president of the Venezuelan National Assembly.

Throughout its history, the surname Cruz has been associated with religious figures, writers, artists, and political leaders, reflecting its widespread presence and cultural significance across various regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cruz

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Cruz.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Cruz was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Cruz has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Cruz was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cruz, please contact us.

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