NameCensus.

UK surname

Cruz

A surname of Spanish and Portuguese origin, meaning "cross," likely referring to one who lived near a cross.

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Cruz surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,299, ranked #4,610, up from #33,498 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Newham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cruz is 1,299 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43200.0%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

1,299

2016, ranked #4,610

Peak year

2016

1,299 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cruz had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,299 in 2016, ranked #4,610.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 16 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Cruz surname distribution map

The map shows where the Cruz surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Cruz surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cruz over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1861 historical 16 #31,832
1881 historical 3 #33,498
1891 historical 8 #33,550
1901 historical 12 #32,772
1911 historical 9 #32,754
1997 modern 320 #12,966
1998 modern 354 #12,438
1999 modern 373 #12,054
2000 modern 404 #11,306
2001 modern 398 #11,276
2002 modern 447 #10,501
2003 modern 460 #10,091
2004 modern 515 #9,312
2005 modern 596 #8,313
2006 modern 647 #7,829
2007 modern 721 #7,266
2008 modern 800 #6,743
2009 modern 914 #6,183
2010 modern 1,080 #5,517
2011 modern 987 #5,879
2012 modern 1,077 #5,383
2013 modern 1,141 #5,212
2014 modern 1,208 #4,988
2015 modern 1,234 #4,848
2016 modern 1,299 #4,610

Geography

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Where Cruz' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, Newham and Brent. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kensington and Chelsea 005 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Westminster 004 Westminster
3 Newham 027 Newham
4 Westminster 014 Westminster
5 Brent 031 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cruz

These lists show first names that appear often with the Cruz surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cruz

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cruz, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Cruz surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Cruz household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Cruz is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cruz is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cruz falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cruz is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Cruz, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of 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.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cruz families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cruz surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 2 Cruz' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.74x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 2 8.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 1 Cruz' recorded in 1881 and an index of 71.94x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 1 71.94x
Moss Side 1 833.33x

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cruz surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Aneceto 1
Joaquin 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Cruz households.

Occupation Count
Correspondent 1
Marinero 1

FAQ

Cruz surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cruz surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Cruz surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cruz surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,299 in 2016. That gives Cruz a modern rank of #4,610.

What does the Cruz surname mean?

A surname of Spanish and Portuguese origin, meaning "cross," likely referring to one who lived near a cross.

What does the Cruz map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cruz bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.