Surname Cruijs - Meaning and Origin
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Cruijs: What does the surname Cruijs mean?
The last name Cruijs is of Dutch origin and is composed of two elements. The first element is the Dutch word “kruis”, meaning “cross”. The second is the suffix “-ijs”, which means “family of” or “kinsman”. Therefore, the name Cruijs translates to “kinsman of the cross”, indicating that the family likely had strong religious roots.
In the Netherlands, Cruijs is renowned for its historied pottery. Its pottery is known for its jubilant colors and intricate designs. The family’s craftsmanship made their product so coveted that wealthy fathers would bestow pieces to decorate their daughters’ dowries.
The Cruijs family’s influential history and distinctive craftsmanship continues to live on today. A well known member of the Cruijs family is Dutch digital media mogul, Gido Cruijs, who is the CEO and founder of Yes Verlag, a privately held media company that specializes in customized content for businesses.
Interesting as it may be, no one can be sure of the origin of the Cruijs name; however, its combination of religious meaning and decorated pottery gives evidence for believing that those bearing the name were once an influential people in Dutch culture and history.
Order DNA origin analysisCruijs: Where does the name Cruijs come from?
The last name Cruijs is a Dutch and Flemish surname that is still used commonly in The Netherlands today. It is also be found elsewhere across Europe, particularly in Switzerland and Belgium. There are even a number of Cruijs variants found in other parts of the world, such as Cruys in the United States and Norwegian language spelling of Kruse.
Although found in quite a few countries, the last name Cruijs appears to be most popular in The Netherlands. The Dutch Central Bureau of Genealogy reports that in 2014, there were approximately 8,300 people named Cruijs living in the Netherlands. This name was most popular in Noord-Holland, where the most Cruijs people can be found. This is followed by Flevoland, Zeeland, and Utrecht. Cruijs is a relatively uncommon name, with an estimated 0.13 of every 1000 Dutch people bearing this last name.
Originally, Cruijs was spelled Kruijs and was derived from a word that means 'stern'. Another possible origin can be traced to the Latin word causa meaning 'cause'. One of the earliest reported uses of this family name dates to the 17th century, with Cruijs de Oude appearing in a 1525 document in Antwerp.
All considered, Cruijs is still a common name in the Netherlands and is found throughout the world. It likely has multiple origins and the spelling and variations make it even more interesting.
Variations of the surname Cruijs
Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Cruijs include: Krus, Cruys, Cruyse, Kruijs, Kruis, Kruijsen, Kruisse, Kruyse, Kruijssen.
Cruijs is an early Dutch patronymic surname created from the forename "Krus," which itself is a popular variant of the forename "Gris." In pre-medieval times when many of these surnames were still being created, the old Dutch spelling variant "Gris" was often abbreviated to "Crus," and later "Krus," when surnames were created. This is where the surname Cruijs originally came from.
The various spellings of the Cruijs surname all stem from the same name, and thus all bear the same origin. Due to the ancient Dutch writing conventions, as well as the various regional dialects in Holland, the surname Cruijs has come to be spelled using several different variants of the original "Krus" spelling.
The most common variant spellings of the surname Cruijs are likely Kruijs, Kruis, and Kruyse. These variants are primarily found in the Netherlands, where they are most often used to refer to people bearing the original Cruijs surname. They are also often found in other countries as well where people of Dutch decent live, such as Canada and the United States.
Other variants of the Cruijs surname such as Kruijssen, Kruisse, and Kruijsen are all very similar to the more common variants, however they are less frequently used. Nonetheless they are all valid variants of the original surname Cruijs and originate from the same source.
Famous people with the name Cruijs
- Tobias Cruijs: a professional soccer player from the Netherlands who currently plays for PEC Zwolle.
- Robot Cruijs: a Dutch rapper and producer known for his critically acclaimed EPs and albums.
- Michael Crujjs: a former Dutch professional hockey player who was part of the Dutch national team in the 1990s.
- Bob Cruijs: an American actor who has appeared in a variety of television and film productions, most notably including the classic action-comedy film Beverly Hills Cop.
- Tim Cruijs: a Dutch artist whose painting style is heavily influenced by Expressionism and who is particularly known for his vivid portraits of everyday life.
- Princess Beatrix Cruijs: a Netherlands royal who is the mother of King Willem-Alexander and the former queen of the Netherlands.
- Geert Cruijs: a former Dutch professional cyclist who won the Tour de France in 1978.
- Laurentien Cruijs: a Dutch model and fashion designer known for her high fashion collaborations and her own line of clothing.
- Jacobus Cruijs: a Dutch football referee who officiated several UEFA competitions in the 2000s.
- Johann Cruijs: a German-born Dutch architect famous for designing several prestigious structures throughout the Netherlands, including the Symphony Hall in Amsterdam and the Amsterdam Central Station.