cross ", ▁either ▁the ▁Christian ▁cross ▁or ▁the ▁figure ▁of ▁tran sect ing ▁lines ▁or ▁ways . ▁For ▁example , ▁in ▁the ▁Philippines , ▁the ▁adopted ▁Tag alog ▁word ▁is ▁rendered ▁to ▁" kr us " ▁in ▁plain ▁usage , ▁but ▁the ▁Spanish ▁sp elling ▁surv ives ▁as ▁a ▁surname . ▁ ▁The ▁word ▁" C ru z " ▁( Span ish ▁for ▁" C ross "), ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁" V era ▁Cruz " ▁(" True ▁Cross ") ▁and ▁" S anta ▁Cruz " ▁(" H oly ▁Cross ") ▁are ▁used ▁as ▁s urn ames ▁and ▁to pon ym s . ▁Its ▁origin ▁as ▁a ▁surname ▁particularly ▁fl our ished ▁after ▁the ▁Al h amb ra ▁Dec ree ▁of ▁ 1 4 9 2 ▁and ▁the ▁increasing ▁activities ▁of ▁the ▁Spanish ▁In quisition , ▁when ▁New ▁Christian ▁families ▁with ▁C rypto - J ew ish , ▁Mo or ish , ▁and / or ▁mixed ▁religious ▁her itage ▁converted ▁to ▁the ▁state - en for ced ▁religion ▁of ▁Catholic ism ▁and ▁subsequently ▁fashion ed ▁and ▁adopted ▁s urn ames ▁with ▁un ambigu ous ▁religious ▁affili ation . ▁ ▁People ▁with ▁the ▁surname ▁ ▁General ▁Alberto ▁Cruz ▁( disambiguation ), ▁multiple ▁people ▁Alex ▁Cruz ▁( disambiguation ), ▁multiple ▁people ▁Art uro ▁Cruz ▁( 1 9 2 3 – 2 0 1 3 ), ▁Nic ar agu an ▁re bel ▁leader ▁Carlos ▁Cruz ▁( disambiguation ), ▁multiple ▁people ▁Is ag ani ▁Cruz ▁( c . ▁ 1 9 2 4 ▁– ▁ 2 0 1