This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Cruse family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Cruse Family History

Cruse Surname Meaning

English and Irish (of Norman origin): habitational name probably from an unidentified place in Normandy named with Old French crues crus creus ‘hollow’. Creuse (in Somme Picardy) and Cruys-Straëte (formerly in Flanders now in the French département of Nord) which have the same etymology are alternative possibilities but seem less likely on geographical and tenurial grounds.

English: perhaps a nickname from Middle English crus(e) ‘bold fierce’ although the regular development would be to Crowse (rhyming with house).

North German: variant of Krause.

Americanized form of German Kruse.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Cruse family from?

You can see how Cruse families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Cruse family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Cruse families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 199 Cruse families living in London. This was about 23% of all the recorded Cruse's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Cruse families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Cruse surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Cruse ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Builders Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Cruse. 12% of Cruse men worked as a Builders Labourer and 72% of Cruse women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Cruse were Window Cleaner and Housewife.

View Census Data for Cruse | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Builders Labourer
    12%
  • Bricklayer
    10%
  • General Labourer
    10%
  • Window Cleaner
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%

What Cruse family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 55,000 census records available for the last name Cruse. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Cruse census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Cruse

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Cruse. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Cruse immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 10,000 military records available for the last name Cruse. For the veterans among your Cruse ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Cruse military records

You've only scratched the surface of Cruse family history

Discover More

What is the average Cruse lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Cruse life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Cruse in 1944 was 24, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Cruse

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Cruse ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Cruse family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial