Delacruz
What is the origin of the last name Delacruz?
Meaning and origin
It is a toponymic surname, derived from the word "cruz" meaning "cross" and the preposition "de" meaning "of" or "from". The surname Delacruz typically signifies a family's association with a physical or metaphorical cross, often indicating a geographical or historical connection to a specific place such as a shrine, chapel, or a landmark related to the Christian faith.
The longer story
The last name Delacruz is of Spanish origin. It is a compound surname, formed by the fusion of two distinct elements: "de" and "la Cruz".
The particle "de" is a common Spanish preposition meaning "of" and is frequently used to indicate aristocratic lineage. In the context of surnames, the particle "de" often denotes a connection to a place or to a noble family. However, it is worth noting that the use of the particle "de" in surnames can also have non-noble origins. In the case of Delacruz, the particle "de" suggests a possible association with a geographical location or an ancestral place of origin.
The second element of the surname, "la Cruz", translates to "the Cross" in English. The phrase "la Cruz" has deep religious connotations, referencing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in Christianity. As a component of a surname, "la Cruz" signifies a connection to Christian beliefs or a historical association with the Christian faith.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
Similar spellings
#458
Delacruz was the 458th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 72,109 people, about 24 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Delacruz
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Delacruz is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.