Cruz is a
surname
In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community.
Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...
of
Iberian origin, first found in
Castile, Spain, but later spread throughout the territories of the former
Spanish and
Portuguese Empires. In Spanish and Portuguese, the word means "cross", either the
Christian cross or the figure of transecting lines or ways. For example, in the
Philippines, the adopted
Tagalog
Tagalog may refer to:
Language
* Tagalog language, a language spoken in the Philippines
** Old Tagalog, an archaic form of the language
** Batangas Tagalog, a dialect of the language
* Tagalog script, the writing system historically used for Tagal ...
word is rendered to "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
The Alhambra Decree (also known as the Edict of Expulsion; Spanish: ''Decreto de la Alhambra'', ''Edicto de Granada'') was an edict issued on 31 March 1492, by the joint Catholic Monarchs of Spain ( Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Arag ...
of 1492 and the increasing activities of the
Spanish Inquisition, when New Christian families with
Crypto-Jewish,
Moorish
The term Moor, derived from the ancient Mauri, is an exonym first used by Christian Europeans to designate the Muslim inhabitants of the Maghreb, the Iberian Peninsula, Sicily and Malta during the Middle Ages.
Moors are not a distinct or se ...
, and/or mixed religious heritage converted to the state-enforced religion of
Catholicism and subsequently fashioned and adopted surnames with unambiguous religious affiliation.
People with the surname
General
*
Alberto Cruz (disambiguation) Alberto Cruz may refer to:
* Alberto Cruz (racewalker) (born 1972), Mexican racewalker
*Alberto Cruz (soccer) (born 1971), American soccer player
*Alberto Segismundo Cruz
Alberto Segismundo Cruz (21 November 1901 – 8 October 1989) was a Filipin ...
, multiple people
*
Alejandro Cruz (disambiguation) Alejandro Cruz may refer to:
* Alejandro Cruz Ortiz (1921–2007), Mexican luchador (professional wrestler) known as Black Shadow
* Alejandro Cruz (politician) (c. 1930–1993), Puerto Rican softball player and mayor of Guaynabo
* Alejandro Cruz ...
, multiple people
*
Alex Cruz (disambiguation), multiple people
*
Arturo Cruz (1923–2013), Nicaraguan rebel leader
*
Carlos Cruz (disambiguation), multiple people
*
Isagani Cruz (c. 1924 – 2013), Filipino judge
*
Juan-Carlos Cruz (born 1962), Dominican American celebrity chef
*
Maria Silva Cruz (1915-1936), Spanish anarchist
*
Maximiano Tuazon Cruz (1923–2013), Filipino Roman Catholic bishop
*
Nicky Cruz (born 1938), Puerto Rican-American ex-gang leader and religious minister
*
Nikolas Cruz (born 1998), American criminal suspect in the
Stoneman Douglas High School shooting
On February 14, 2018, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz opened fire on students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the Miami suburban town of Parkland, Florida, murdering 17 people and injuring 17 others. Cruz, a former student at t ...
*
Oswaldo Cruz (1872–1917), Brazilian physician, bacteriologist, and epidemiologist
*
Richard Cruz (disambiguation), multiple people
Arts
General
*
Amina Cruz, American photographer
*
Claudia Cruz (born 1986), Dominican Miss World contestant 2004
*
Gaspar da Cruz (ca. 1520–1570), Portuguese Dominican friar, author of the first European book on China
*
Gemma Cruz, Filipino crowned Miss International
*
Nilo Cruz (born 1962), Cuban-American playwright and Pulitzer prize winner
Actors and Actresses
;General
*
Ernesto Gómez 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
Raphael Cruz (September 5, 1986 - January 26, 2018) was an American acrobat, clown and actor. Cruz is known for having played the lead role of Buster, a Buster Keaton inspired character, in the cinema themed Cirque du Soleil production ''Iri ...
, 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
;Filipino
*
Donna Cruz
Donna Cruz Yrastorza-Larrazabal professionally known as Donna Cruz is a Filipina singer and actress. She is a member of the Philippine showbiz family Cruz.
Her self-titled debut album ''Donna'' was well received by the general public and earn ...
(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 (1947-2001), 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
Sheryl Rose Anna Marie Sonora Cruz (born April 5, 1974), better known as Sheryl Cruz, is a Filipino actress and singer. She is known for her roles as Divina Ferrer in 2007's television drama series ''Sinasamba Kita'', as Valeria in '' Bakekang ...
(born 1974), Filipino actress
*
Sunshine Cruz (born 1977), Filipino actress
*
Tirso Cruz III (born 1953, Filipino actor
Musical Artists
;General
*
Celia Cruz
Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso (21 October 1925 – 16 July 2003), known as Celia Cruz, was a naturalized Cuban-American singer and one of the most popular Latin artists of the 20th century. Cruz rose to fame in Cuba during t ...
(1924-2003), Cuban salsa singer
*
Simon Cruz
Simon Cruz (born Simon Söderström; 26 July 1979), is a Swedes, Swedish rock singer most famous for being the former lead singer for the Swedish sleaze rock band Crashdïet.
Pre-Crashdïet
Details of Cruz's early life, such as his childhood ar ...
, Swedish singer of glam metal band Crashdïet
*
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
Bobby Cruz (born February 2, 1937), is a salsa singer and religious minister. He was part of the duo Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz. Both Cruz and Ray became religious ministers and as such founded over 70 Christian churches during the time they retired ...
(born 1937), Puerto Rican salsa singer and religious minister
*
Jason Cruz
Jason Alexander Cruz (born February 6, 1974) is the American lead singer and lyricist of punk band Strung Out, which formed in 1989 when he was 15 years old. He is also an artist, and a poet and fronts his roots Americana band 'Jason Cruz and ...
(born 1974), American musician, artist, poet
Politicians
*
Angel Cruz
Angel L. Cruz is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 180th District since 2001. Cruz is a member of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus
The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus is an Ameri ...
, a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 180th District
*
Benjamin Cruz
Benjamin Joseph "BJ" Franquez Cruz (born March 3, 1951) is an Chamorro lawyer, jurist, and politician who served as the Speaker of the 34th Guam Legislature from 2017 to 2018 and as Vice Speaker from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Par ...
(born 1951), Guamanian politician
*
Catalina Cruz
Catalina Cruz (born 1982/1983) is a Colombians, Colombian-Americans, American attorney from the borough of Queens in New York City. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party and former undocumented immigrant (DREAM Act, ...
(born 1980s), New York politician
*
Gina Cruz Blackledge
Gina Andrea Cruz Blackledge (born 8 July 1969) is a Mexican lawyer and politician who is the National Action Party Senator from the State of Baja California.
Early life
Cruz Blackledge was born in Mexicali.
Education
She graduated from t ...
(born 1969), Mexican politician, Senator from Baja California since 2018
*
Inmaculada Cruz
María Inmaculada Cruz Salcedo (8 December 1960 – 4 August 2013) was a Spanish politician and teacher affiliated to the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party. She was elected as member of the Senate of Spain in 2011 representing Cuenca.
She died on ...
(1960–2013), Spanish politician
*
Ted Cruz (born 1970), (Rafael Edward Cruz) Canadian-American politician and United States Senator from Texas since 2013
Sports
*
Adolfo Schwelm Cruz
Adolfo Carlos Julio Schwelm-Cruz (28 June 1923 – 10 February 2012) was a racing driver from Argentina. He participated in one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix, on 18 January 1953. He scored no championship points.
Complete Formula ...
(1923–2012), Argentine Formula One race car driver
*
Beatriz Cruz
Beatriz Cruz Nazario (born June 15, 1980) is a Puerto Rican female track and field athlete, who competes in the sprints events.
She represented her native country at the 2000 Summer Olympics, where she was eliminated in the first round of t ...
(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
*
Iohana Cruz (born 1980), Cuban diver
*
Jericho Cruz (born 1990), Filipino basketball player
*
Jervy Cruz
Jervy A. Cruz (born September 9, 1986) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the NorthPort Batang Pier of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
A former Most Valuable Player in the UAAP, Cruz was one of the reasons why the U ...
(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) Nelson Cruz (born 31 December 1977) is a Cape Verdean athlete, specializing in long-distance running, marathon and half marathon.
Born in Lisbon to Cape Verdean parents, Nelson grew up in Portugal, having visited Cape Verde for the first time in A ...
(born 1977), long-distance runner from Cape Verde
*
Raúl Ceferino Cruz (1934–1985), Argentine chess master
*
Rolando Cruz
''For the Rolando Cruz related to the Illinois criminal case, see Rolando Cruz case''
Rolando Cruz (born September 17, 1939, in Salinas, Puerto Rico) is a former pole vaulter from Puerto Rico. He trained under Jimmy Curran at Mercersburg Academy ...
(born 1939), Puerto Rican pole vaulter
*
Roque Santa Cruz
Roque Luis Santa Cruz Cantero (; born 16 August 1981) is a Paraguayan professional footballer who plays as a striker for Paraguayan club Club Libertad. He is the record goal scorer and has earned over 100 caps for the Paraguay national team ...
(born 1981), Paraguayan football player
*
Victor Cruz (American football) (born 1986), wide receiver
*
Wendy Cruz
Wendy Ramón Cruz Martínez (born 7 March 1976 in Santiago de los Caballeros) is a former professional cyclist from the Dominican Republic. Nicknamed ''El Ciclon'' he won the gold medal in the men's individual road race at the 2007 Pan American ...
(born 1976), Dominican Republic cyclist
Baseball
*
Edvandro Cruz (born 1978), Brazilian mountain biker
*
Fernando Cruz (baseball)
Fernando E. Cruz (born March 28, 1990) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut with Cincinnati in 2022 at the age of 32, 15 years after he was initially drafted ...
(born 1990), Puerto Rican baseball player
*
Frank Cruz (born c. 1959), American college baseball coach
*
Jesús 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
Oneil Cruz (born October 4, 1998) is a Dominican professional baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He made his MLB debut in 2021.
Career
Los Angeles Dodgers
Cruz signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in July 2015 as an international free a ...
(born 1998), Dominican baseball player
Volleyball
*
Áurea Cruz (born 1982), Puerto Rican volleyball player
*
Eva Cruz
Eva Marie Cruz Dalmau (born January 22, 1974 in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) is a member of the Puerto Rican national volleyball team. Cruz plays for Valencianas of Juncos in the Puerto Rican league of volleyball. She is for many "La Reina" ( ...
(born 1974), Puerto Rican volleyball player
*
Flávio Cruz
Flávio Rodolfo Gonçalves Cruz (born 28 August 1982) is a Portuguese volleyball player who plays for Castêlo da Maia and the Portugal national team. He earn honours as ''Best Spiker'' at the second 2008 Olympic Qualification Tournament in ...
(born 1982), Portuguese volleyball player
*
Jacqueline Cruz Silva (born 1962), Brazilian beach volleyball player
As a given name
*
Cruz Bustamante (born 1953), American politician
*
Cruz Martínez Esteruelas
Cruz Martínez Esteruelas (4 February 1932 – 17 September 2000) was a Spanish politician who served as Minister of Education and Science of Spain between 1968 and 1973, during the Francoist dictatorship
Francoist Spain ( es, España fra ...
(1932–2000), Spanish politician
*
Cruz Reynoso (1932-2021), American civil rights lawyer and jurist.
Fictional characters
*Artemio Cruz, protagonist of the novel ''
La muerte de Artemio Cruz
''The Death of Artemio Cruz'' ( es, La muerte de Artemio Cruz, ) is a novel written in 1962 by Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes. It is considered to be a milestone in the Latin American Boom.
Plot summary
Artemio Cruz, a corrupt soldier, politician, ...
'' 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
''Total Overdose: A Gunslinger's Tale in Mexico'' (commonly referred to as simply ''Total Overdose'') is an open world third-person shooter video game developed by Deadline Games and published by SCi Games for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 and ...
'' and ''
Chili Con Carnage
''Chili Con Carnage'' is a 2007 action/adventure third-person shooter video game released exclusively for the PlayStation Portable. It was developed by Deadline Games and published by Sci Entertainment in Europe and by Eidos in North America. I ...
''
*
Soma Cruz in the video game ''
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow''
* Sonia Cruz, a character in the Netflix series ''
Grand Army''
*
Jessica Cruz
Jessica Cruz, one of the characters known as Green Lantern, is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Geoff Johns, Doug Mahnke, Ivan Reis and Ethan Van Sciver, she is a member of the Green Lantern Corps ...
, a
Green Lantern from
DC Comics.
*Cruz Ramirez, a character in ''
Cars 3''
*Cruz Coronado, protagonist of ''
Explorer Academy
Exploration refers to the historical practice of discovering remote lands. It is studied by geographers and historians.
Two major eras of exploration occurred in human history: one of convergence, and one of divergence. The first, covering most ...
''
See also
*
Cruz (disambiguation), other meanings
*
De la Cruz surname page
*
Santa Cruz (disambiguation)
*
Veracruz (disambiguation) Veracruz is a state in Mexico. Veracruz or Vera Cruz (literally "True Cross") may also refer to:
People
* María González Veracruz (born 1979), Spanish politician
* Philip Vera Cruz (1904–1994), Filipino American labor leader
* Tomé Vera Cruz ( ...
*
Croce
*
Cruise (name)
*
Cruiser (disambiguation)
*
Cruising (disambiguation)
*
Cruse (disambiguation)
*
Cruze (disambiguation)
*
Cruzer
A USB flash drive (also called a thumb drive) is a data storage device that includes flash memory with an integrated USB interface. It is typically removable, rewritable and much smaller than an optical disc. Most weigh less than . Since firs ...
*
Kruse (disambiguation) The surname Kruse may refer to:
* Anine Kruse (born 1977), Norwegian music conductor
* August von Kruse (1779–1848), German general during the Napoleonic Wars
* Frederik Vinding Kruse (1880–1963), Danish jurist
* Käthe Kruse (1883&ndas ...
{{Surname, Cruz
Portuguese-language surnames
Spanish-language surnames
Surnames of Spanish origin