Meaning and origin
The surname Curtis derives from the medieval given name "Curtis," which originated as a byname from the Old French word "curteis" meaning courteous or well-mannered. This name was introduced to England by the Normans after the 1066 Norman Conquest, and it was commonly used as both a personal name and a surname. Over time, the surname Curtis spread throughout England, Europe, and later to other parts of the world through migration and colonization.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#309
Curtis was the 309th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 101,801 people, about 35 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Where it is found
Countries linked to Curtis.
Surnames like Curtis
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Curtis is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.