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.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, Canada) IPA^(key): /kɹɒs/

• Audio (Canada):

  (file)

• (General American, General Australian) enPR: krôs, IPA^(key): /kɹɔs/

• Audio (General American):

  (file)

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• (cot–caught merger) enPR: krŏs, IPA^(key): /kɹɑs/
• Rhymes: -ɒs, -ɔːs

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 place in the United Kingdom:
      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 in Ellesmere Rural parish and Ellesmere Urban parish, north of Ellesmere, Shropshire, England (OS grid ref SJ3936).
      6. A village in Compton Bishop parish, Somerset, England, previously in Sedgemoor district (OS grid ref ST4154).
   2. A place in Ireland:
      1. A village and townland in County Clare, Ireland, Irish spelling An Chrois.
      2. A village in County Mayo, Ireland, Irish spelling An Chrois.
   3. A place in the United States:
      1. An unincorporated community in Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States.
      2. An unincorporated community in Mineral County, West Virginia, United States.
      3. A town in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, United States.
   4. A barangay of Glan, Sarangani, Philippines.

Usage notes

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

Derived terms

• Holy Cross
• St Cross

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
• Cross-McKusick-Breen syndrome
• Cross syndrome
• Crossville

See also

• Crozier
• Kreuzer