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

LaCruz, 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 LaCruz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of LaCruz in America

LaCruz is the 83834th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The LaCruz surname appeared 224 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname LaCruz.

We can also compare 2010 data for LaCruz 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 LaCruz

The surname LaCruz has its origins in Spain, emerging during the medieval period. It is derived from the Spanish words "la" meaning "the" and "cruz" meaning "cross." This suggests the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a prominent cross or crucifix, or perhaps had a connection to the Catholic Church.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Repartimiento de Sevilla, a document from the 13th century that recorded the distribution of land and property in the city of Seville after its conquest by the Christian forces of King Ferdinand III in 1248. Several individuals with the surname LaCruz are mentioned in this record, indicating the name was already well-established in the region by that time.

The surname LaCruz appears to have spread throughout Spain during the subsequent centuries, with variations in spelling and pronunciation emerging in different regions. In the 15th century, records from the town of Teruel in Aragon mention a Juan de LaCruz, who may have been a prominent figure in the local community.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname LaCruz was Fray Juan de la Cruz (1542-1591), a renowned Spanish mystic and poet who was a contemporary of Saint Teresa of Ávila. His works, such as "Cántico Espiritual" and "Noche Oscura del Alma," are considered masterpieces of Spanish Renaissance literature and have had a significant influence on Catholic spirituality.

Another notable figure was Diego de la Cruz (1619-1677), a Spanish painter and engraver who worked in the Baroque style. His works can be found in various churches and museums throughout Spain, showcasing his skill in religious and allegorical themes.

In the 18th century, the surname gained prominence in the Americas, particularly in Mexico, where a notable bearer was Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (1753-1811), a Catholic priest and leader of the Mexican War of Independence. While his surname was Hidalgo, his mother's maiden name was LaRuz, a variation of LaCruz.

As the name spread further, it took on different spellings and variations in different regions. For instance, in the United States, the spelling LaCruz became more common, while in parts of Latin America, the spelling LaCruz or LaCruz was also used.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name LaCruz

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

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 LaCruz 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 LaCruz 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 LaCruz was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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