Combination of the names Maria and Cruz. Maria is the name used in the New Testament, ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Miryam. There are several possible meanings of Miryam, some of them being: "lots of bitterness", "wished for child", "bitter", "rebellious". The name Cruz comes from the word that means "cross" in Spanish or Portuguese. It refers to the crucifix of Christian tradition and it may also be used as a surname. As a surname it was probably derived from the given name, or it might be related to those who lived in the area called Cruz, or "La Cruz."