cruzes

Cruzes is a term in the Portuguese language that can function as both a common noun and a proper name. As the plural of cruz, it literally means "crosses" and is used in religious, geographical, and cultural contexts. In toponymy, Cruzes occurs in the names of places within Portuguese-speaking countries, often reflecting historical or devotional associations with crosses, or as marks on landscapes such as hilltops, roadsides, or shrines.

Cruzes may also appear as a surname in Lusophone communities, though it is relatively uncommon. As a surname, it is generally linked to ancestral associations with a place name or a family that used the cross as a symbol.

In broader usage, the word cruz(es) appears in many street names, church names, parish names, and monuments across Portugal, Brazil, and other regions with Portuguese heritage, illustrating the cultural prominence of the cross in Christian symbolism.

See also Cruz, Cross, Toponymy.