Cross

See also: cross, crôs, cross-, and cros

English

Etymology

• As an English surname, from the noun cross, as in crossroads. Also a calque of this word in various European languages, such as French Lacroix, German Kreutz, Serbo-Croatian Križ. Compare Crouch, Crozier, Kriz.
• As an Irish surname, shortened from McCrossen.
• As a German surname, Americanized from Kross, from Middle Low German krus (“pitcher, vessel”), which is possibly an old Germanic borrowing of Ancient Greek κρωσσός (krōssós, “pitcher, pail, urn”). Also a variant of Kress.

Proper noun

Cross

1. (Christianity) The cross on which Jesus died and, in metonymical uses, such as to refer to Christ's suffering in general.

   Synonyms: Holy Cross, True Cross, Crucifix

2. A number of places with the name "Cross":
   1. A settlement on the Isle of Lewis, Western Isles council area, Scotland (OS grid ref NB5062).
   2. A hamlet in St Dominick parish, east Cornwall, England (OS grid ref SX4067)
   3. A hamlet in Georgeham parish, North Devon district, Devon, England (OS grid ref SS4539).
   4. A hamlet in Goodleigh parish, North Devon district, Devon (OS grid ref SS6034).
   5. A hamlet north of Ellesmere, Shropshire, England (OS grid ref SJ3936).
   6. A village in Compton Bishop parish, Sedgemoor district, Somerset, England (OS grid ref ST4154).
   7. A village and townland in County Clare, Ireland, Irish spelling An Chrois.
   8. A village in County Mayo, Ireland, Irish spelling An Chrois.
   9. An unincorporated community in Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States.
   10. An unincorporated community in Mineral County, West Virginia, United States.
   11. A town in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, United States.

Usage notes

For places with the affix "Cross", see cross#Derived terms.

Proper noun

Cross

1. A topographic surname from Middle English for someone who lived near a stone cross on a road.
   • 1922, Musical News and Herald, volumes 62-63, page 780:

     Max Cross cut a fine figure as the Colonel, Percy Penny was a somewhat unducal Duke, while Edgar McHale gave a particularly good rendering of the Major.

Derived terms

• Cross County
• Crossville

See also

• Crozier
• Kreuzer