Cruze
A Spanish surname derived from the Spanish word "cruz" meaning "cross".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,542 Americans carry the last name Cruze. That puts it at #20,149 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.45 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 222,279 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Cruze surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
1.5K
1 in 222,279
Census rank
#20,149
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,325 bearers of the surname Cruze in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.45 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 20149th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Cruze, the largest self-reported group is White at 70.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (21.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Cruze
The surname Cruze has its origins in the Spanish region of Galicia, tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the word "cruz" or "cruce," which means "cross" or "crossing" in Spanish. This connection suggests that the name may have been originally associated with a location near a cross or a crossroads.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in a document from the year 1247, which mentions a person named Pedro Cruze residing in the town of Santiago de Compostela. This town, known for its famous cathedral and pilgrimage route, lends further credence to the theory that the name was linked to landmarks or intersections along religious routes.
In the 14th century, the name Cruze is found in several medieval manuscripts and records from the region of Galicia, such as the Libro de Repartimiento de Sevilla, which documented land grants and property ownership. During this time, the name was sometimes spelled as "Cruze" or "Cruces."
Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname Cruze. One such figure was Juan Cruze (1520-1588), a Spanish navigator and explorer who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expeditions to the Americas. Another was María Cruze (1638-1712), a renowned poet and writer from Seville, whose works explored themes of love and spirituality.
In the 18th century, the name Cruze gained prominence in the region of Asturias, where it was associated with the town of Cruces, a settlement located at the intersection of several important trade routes. One notable bearer of the name from this period was Alonso Cruze (1732-1804), a renowned architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the region.
Moving into the 19th century, the surname Cruze appeared in various historical records, such as the Archivo Histórico Provincial de Galicia, which documented births, marriages, and deaths in the region. One notable figure from this time was Ramón Cruze (1842-1912), a prominent lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Spanish parliament.
As the name spread across Spain and beyond, it took on variations in spelling and pronunciation, reflecting the diverse cultures and languages it encountered. However, the core meaning and origins of the name remained rooted in the rich history and traditions of the Galician region.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Cruze
Among Census respondents with the surname Cruze, the largest self-reported group is White at 70.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (21.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Cruze bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Cruze surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White70.6%
- Hispanic or Latino21.5%
- Asian and Pacific Islander3.1%
- Black or African American2.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.4%
- Two or more races1.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Cruze surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #20,468 | #20,149 | 1.6% |
| Count | 1,205 | 1,325 | 10.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.45 | 0.45 | 0.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Cruze bearers went from 1,205 to 1,325 (+10.0% change). The surname moved up 319 positions in the national ranking, going from #20,468 to #20,149.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Cruze
FAQ
Cruze surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Cruze?
The surname Cruze holds position #20,149 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,542 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.45 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Cruze surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Cruze, the largest self-reported group is White at 70.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (21.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.