Magnetoresistive magnetic field sensor bridge with compensated cross-axis effect

In one embodiment, a magnetoresistive (MR) magnetic field sensor system includes a MR magnetic field sensor bridge. The MF magnetic field sensor bridge includes a sense leg with a sense element with a first layer with a first fixed magnetization orientation and, a second layer with a first free magnetization orientation, the first free magnetization orientation orthogonal to the first fixed magnetization orientation at a zero applied magnetic field. A reference leg of the MF magnetic field sensor bridge is electronically connected in parallel to the sense leg. The reference leg includes at least one reference element with a third layer with a second fixed magnetization orientation parallel to, and in the same direction as, the first fixed magnetization orientation, and a fourth layer with a second free magnetization orientation, the second free magnetization orientation parallel to the first fixed magnetization orientation at the zero applied magnetic field.