Cruseiro

Cruseiro is a proper noun with multiple contemporary and historical usages in Lusophone contexts and in fiction. In onomastics, Cruseiro is a relatively rare surname found in Portugal and Brazil. The spelling is often treated as a variant of Cruzeiro, derived from cruzeiro meaning cross, landmark, or crossroads, though precise etymology varies by source and region. The name has appeared in archival records dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, typically linked to families living near landmarks or crossroads.

In geography, Cruseiro is used as a toponym for a small number of rural localities and former parishes in parts of Portugal and Brazil. These places are small and rural, and the name usually denotes historical cross-shaped landmarks or routes.

In culture, Cruseiro has appeared in various works of fiction and media as a place name, a family surname, or an organizational title. In such contexts, it is typically employed to evoke a Lusophone heritage or a sense of geographic provenance without implying real-world significance.

See also Cruzeiro, Crux, Cruz.