Curtis or Curtiss is a common English

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

and

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

of Anglo-Norman origin from the Old French ''curteis'' ( Modern French ''courtois'') which derived from the Spanish Cortés (of which Cortez is a variation) and the Portuguese and Galician Cardoso. The name means "polite, courteous, or well-bred". It is a compound of ''curt-'' "court" and ''-eis'' "-ish". The spelling ''u'' to render in Old French was mainly Anglo-Norman and Norman, when the spelling ''o'' was the usual

Parisian French French of France () is the predominant variety of the French language in France, Andorra and Monaco, in its formal and informal registers. It has, for a long time, been associated with Standard French. It is now seen as a variety of French along ...

one, Modern French ''ou'' ''-eis'' is the Old French suffix for ''-ois'', Western French (including Anglo-Norman) keeps ''-eis'', simplified to ''-is'' in English. The word ''court'' shares the same etymology but retains a Modern French spelling, after the orthography had changed.T. F. Hoad, ''English Etymology'', Oxford University Press paperbook 1993. p. 101a It was brought to England (and subsequently, the rest of the Isles) via the Norman Conquest. In the United Kingdom, the name Curtis was at its height in 1996, when it was the 78th most popular boy's name in England and Wales. Curtis was the 72nd most popular boy's name in 1963 in the United States, but has declined in popularity there since. Many Hungarian immigrants in English-speaking countries with the last name

Kertész Kertész is a Hungarian language, Hungarian occupational surname, which means gardener, derived from ''kert'' and ''kertez'' ("garden").''Dictionary of American Family Names''"Kertész Family History" Oxford University Press, 2013. Retrieved on 20 ...

have adopted the name ''Curtis'', since it is pronounced similarly and helped them integrate into their new community.

Surname

People

* Adam Curtis (born 1955), English television documentarian * Alan Curtis (disambiguation), multiple people * Alice Turner Curtis (1860–1958), American writer * Alison Curtis (born 1977), Canadian-Irish radio presenter * Allen Curtis (1877–1961), American film director * Andrew Curtis (cricketer) (born 1943), English cricketer * Anne Curtis (born 1985), Philippine actress * Anthony Curtiss (1919–1981), American naturalist, elder brother of Sydney Curtiss and Thomas Quinn Curtiss * Aubyn Curtiss (1925–2017), American politician *

Benjamin Curtis (disambiguation) Benjamin or Ben Curtis may refer to: * Benjamin Robbins Curtis (1809–1874), American jurist * Ben Curtis (golfer) (born 1977), American golfer * Ben Curtis (actor) (born 1980), American actor * Benjamin Curtis (musician) (1978–2013), American mu ...

, also Ben Curtis, multiple people * Cathrine Curtis (1889- ?), American actress * Catie Curtis (born 1965), American singer-songwriter * Chad Curtis (born 1968), American former major league baseball player convicted of sexual assault * Charles Curtis (botanist) (1853–1928), English botanist who became the first superintendent of the Penang Botanic Gardens * Charles Curtis (disambiguation), several people * Charles Curtis (1860–1936), 31st vice president of the United States (1929–1933) * Charles Curtiss (1908–1993), American communist *

Charles W. Curtis Charles Whittlesey Curtis (born October 13, 1926) is a mathematician and historian of mathematics, known for his work in finite group theory and representation theory. He is a retired professor of mathematics at the University of Oregon. Research ...

(born 1926), American mathematician * Chet Curtis (1939–2014), American journalist * Chris Curtis (1941–2005), English musician, member of band The Searchers * Chuck Curtis (1935–2016), American football coach *

Cliff Curtis (baseball) Clifton Garfield Curtis (July 3, 1881 – April 23, 1943) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. His middle name, Garfield, is assumed to derive from that of U.S. president and fellow Ohio native James A. Garfield, who was fatally shot the day b ...

(1881–1943), American baseball player * Cliff Curtis (born 1968), New Zealand film and television actor *

Cyrus H. K. Curtis Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis (June 18, 1850June 7, 1933) was an American publisher of magazines and newspapers, including the ''Ladies' Home Journal'' and ''The Saturday Evening Post''.Ingham, John N. Biographical Dictionary of American Business ...

(1850–1933), American magazine publisher *

David Curtis David Curtis may refer to: *David Curtis (rugby union) (born 1965), Irish rugby union international * David L. Curtis (born 1947), American politician in the North Carolina Senate *David Roderick Curtis (1927–2017), Australian scientist * David Wh ...

(born 1948), Irish rugby union player and cricketer *

Dexter Curtis Dexter Curtis (September 12, 1828 – May 15, 1898) was an American inventor, businessman, and politician. Born in Schenectady, New York, Curtis grew up on a farm. He was in the lumber business and lived in Louisiana, Michigan, and Chicago, Ill ...

(1828–1898), American inventor and politician * Dick Curtis (1902–1952), American actor *

Edmund Curtis Edmund CurtisIrish: ''Éamon Cuirtéis'' (1881–1943), was born in Lancashire to Irish parents. He worked in a rubber factory until he was 15 when he continued with his education. His education was paid for through donations when it was heard ...

(1881–1943), historian and Professor of History * Edward S. Curtis (1868–1952), photographer *

Larry Curtiss Larry A. Curtiss is an American chemist and researcher. He is a distinguished fellow and group leader of the Molecular Materials Group in the Materials Science Division at the United States Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Energy’s (DO ...

, American chemist * Edwin Curtis (1906–1999), English Anglican archbishop in Mauritius *

Elden Francis Curtiss Elden Francis Curtiss (born June 16, 1932) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Helena in Montana from 1976 to 1993, and as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Omaha in Nebraska from 1993 to 2 ...

(born 1932), American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church *

Emma Curtiss Bascom Emma Curtiss Bascom (née Emma Curtiss; April 20, 1828 – 1916) was a 19th-century American educator, suffragist and reformer from the U.S. state of Massachusetts. She was a charter member of the Association for the Advancement of Woman and for ...

(1828–1916), American educator, suffragist and reformer *George M. Curtis (New York politician) (1840–1915), American lawyer, politician and judge * George Ticknor Curtis (1812–1894), American politician and lawyer * George William Curtis (1824–1892), American writer and public speaker * Glenn Curtiss (1878–1930), American aviation pioneer * Glenn Curtiss (1878–1930), American aviation pioneer and founder of the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company *

H. W. Curtiss Dr. Harvey Willard Curtiss (February 22, 1824 – April 30, 1902) was a Republican legislator from the U.S. state of Ohio who, as the president of the Ohio Senate, became the 13th lieutenant governor of Ohio 1877–1878 when the governor resi ...

(1824–1902), American politician *

Harriot Curtis Harriot Sumner Curtis (June 30, 1881 – October 25, 1974) was an American amateur golfer and an early participant in the sport of skiing. From the Manchester, Massachusetts area, she was one of ten children. Her father was a colonel in the ...

(1881–1974), American golfer *

Harry Curtis (baseball) Harry Albert Curtis (February 19, 1883 – August 1, 1951) was a catcher in Major League Baseball who played briefly for the New York Giants during the season. He threw right-handed (batting side unknown). A native of Portland, Maine, he attended ...

(1883–1951), American baseball player * Heber Doust Curtis (1872–1942), American astronomer * Ian Curtis (1956–1980), English musician, lead singer of Joy Division * James Curtiss (1803–1859), American politician * Jamie Lee Curtis (born 1958), American actress *

Jim Curtiss Ervin Duane Curtiss (December 27, 1861 – February 14, 1945) was a professional baseball player who played outfielder, outfield in Major League Baseball in 1891. External links

Major League Baseball outfielders Baseball players from Mich ...

(1861–1945), American professional baseball player *

John Curtis (disambiguation) John Curtis may refer to: Politics * John Curtis (burgess) (fl. 1659–1660), North American colonial British planter and politician * John Curtis (English politician) (c. 1751–1813), English Member of Parliament for Wells, 1782–1784 and Steyn ...

, several people * John Curtiss Underwood (1809–1873), American lawyer, abolitionist politician, and federal judge *

John Curtiss (Royal Air Force officer) Air Marshal Sir John Bagot Curtiss, (6 December 1924 – 14 September 2013) was a senior Royal Air Force officer. He served in Bomber Command during the Second World War and was Air Commander of the British forces involved in the Falklands War. ...

(1924–2013), British Royal Air Force officer *

John Shelton Curtiss John Shelton Curtiss (July 15, 1899 – December 27, 1983), was an American historian of Russia and historical scholar of old Yankee stock. Curtiss was a longtime professor of history at Duke University. Early life and education John Shelton Cur ...

(1899–1983), American historian of Russia and historical scholar of old Yankee stock * Joseph S. Curtis (1831–1878), American politician and lawyer *

Julian Wheeler Curtiss Julian Wheeler Curtiss (1858–1944), was president of the Spalding sports equipment company and a pioneering promoter of golf in the United States. Early life Curtiss was born in Fairfield, Connecticut, on August 29, 1858. Among his siblings ...

(1858–1944), golf equipment manufacturer *

Kathlyn Curtis Kathlyn Mary Curtis was appointed to the Provincial Court of Manitoba on March 1, 2001. Curtis gained her law degree from the University of Manitoba in 1988. A period with the Prosecutions Branch was followed by her appointment as a magistrate. ...

, Manitoba judge *

Kelly Curtis Kelly Lee Curtis is an American actress. She is known for her roles in ''Magic Sticks'' (1987), and ''The Devil's Daughter (1991 film), The Devil's Daughter'' (1991). Early life Kelly Curtis was born in Santa Monica, California, the older chil ...

(born 1956), American actress * Kevin Curtis (born 1978), American football player * King Curtis (1934–1971), American saxophonist * L. Perry Curtis (born 1932), American historian of Ireland * Lee Curtis (born Peter Flannery), British musician *

Leon Curtiss Leon W. Curtiss (March 4, 1861 – October 18, 1934) was an American politician in the state of Washington. He served in the Washington House of Representatives The Washington House of Representatives is the lower house of the Washington St ...

(1861–1934), American politician * Lionel George Curtis (1872–1955), founder of the Royal Institute of International Affairs * Louis Curtiss (1865–1924), Canadian-born American architect * Louisa Knapp Curtis (1851–1910), columnist and first editor of The Ladies Home Journal *

Mac Curtis Wesley Erwin "Mac" Curtis, Jr. (January 16, 1939 – September 16, 2013) was an American rockabilly musician. Biography Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Curtis began playing guitar at the age of 12, entering local talent competitions. In 1954, h ...

(1939–2013), American musician * Margaret Curtis (1883–1965), American golfer and tennis player * Mark Curtis (British author), British political author *

Mark Curtis (SWP member) Mark Stanton Curtis (born 1959) is a former member of the American Socialist Workers Party (SWP). Curtis was the subject of a defense campaign by the SWP after he was charged and convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in 1988. The SWP ...

(born 1959), former American Socialist Worker's Party member *

Martha E. Sewall Curtis Martha E. Sewall Curtis (May 18, 1858 – April 27, 1915) was an American woman suffragist and writer. She delivered notable lectures at the meetings of the National Woman Suffrage Association in Boston. For years, she edited a weekly woman's colum ...

(1858–1915), American suffragist, writer * Mary C. Curtis (born 1953), American journalist *

Mary Louise Curtis Bok Zimbalist Mary Louise Curtis (August 6, 1876 in Boston, Massachusetts – January 4, 1970 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)Bok, Edward W. (1920) ''The Americanization of Edward Bok''. Lakeside Classics edition, R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co., Chicago, Illinois, ...

(1876–1970), founder of the Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia * Matt Curtis, American college baseball coach *

Michael Curtis (disambiguation) Michael Curtis may refer to: *Michael Curtis (journalist) (1920–2004), British newspaper editor and executive *Michael Curtis (musician), musician and composer * Michael Curtis (role playing game writer), role-playing game designer and writer * M ...

, several people * Moses Ashley Curtis (M.A. Curtis, 1808–1872), American botanist and mycologist *

Nannie Webb Curtis Nannie Webb Curtis (, Austin; after first marriage, Webb; after second marriage, Curtis; June 22, 1861 - March 29, 1920) was an American lecturer and temperance activist, widely-known as a clubwoman. She wrote essays on the topic and edited a mag ...

(1861-1920), American lecturer, temperance activist, clubwoman *

Norman Curtis (footballer) Norman Curtis (10 September 1924 – 7 September 2009) was an English-born footballer, who played as a full back in the Football League in the 1950s and 1960s. He started his Football League career at a relatively late age, moving from Gainsb ...

(1924–2009), English football player * Patrick Curtis (producer) (born 1938), American producer * Patrick Curtis (bishop) (1740–1832), Irish archbishop * Philip Curtis (1926–1951), English soldier * Philip Curtiss (1885–1964), politician, novelist, and newspaper reporter *

Ralph Hamilton Curtiss Ralph Hamilton Curtiss (8 February 1880 – 25 December 1929) was an American astronomer and a professor of astrophysics at the University of Michigan. His main work was on stellar spectra and the identification of spectral Binary star, binaries a ...

(1880–1929), American astronomer *

Reginald Salmond Curtis Major-general (United Kingdom), Major-General Sir Reginald Salmond Curtis (21 November 1863 – 11 January 1922) was a British army officer, responsible for the reorganisation and modernisation of the Royal Engineers during the First World War. ...

(1863–1922), British soldier * Richard Curtis (born 1956), British comedy scriptwriter *

Ronan Curtis Ronan Curtis (born 29 March 1996) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a left-winger for the Republic of Ireland national team. Curtis started his career with Derry City in 2015, spending four seasons there and amassing 100 appear ...

(born 1996), Irish football player * Roy Curtiss, American microbiologist * Samuel Curtis (S.Curtis, 1779–1860), English botanist * Samuel Ryan Curtis (1805–1866), Union General in the American Civil War * Sarah Curtis (geographer), British geographer and academic * Scott Curtis (American football) (born 1964), American football player * Scott Curtis (born 1984), American actor and musician * Sidney Curtiss (1917–1994), American politician *

Thomas Bradford Curtis Thomas Bradford Curtis (May 14, 1911 – January 10, 1993) was an American Republican politician from Missouri who represented suburban St. Louis County, Missouri for nine terms from 1951 to 1969. He was a primary driver behind the Civil Rights ...

(1911–1993), American Representative from Missouri *

Thomas Quinn Curtiss Thomas Quinn Curtiss (June 22, 1915 – July 17, 2000) was an American writer, and film and theater critic. He is also known for his relationship to author Klaus Mann. Early life Curtiss was born on June 22, 1915, in New York City, the son of R ...

(1915–2000), French-born writer, and film and theatre critic *

Tom Curtis (disambiguation) Tom Curtis may refer to: * Tom Curtis (American football) (born 1947), American football player * Tom Curtis (footballer) Thomas David Curtis (born 1 March 1973) is an English retired professional footballer who is England's youth developme ...

, several people * Tommy Curtis (1952–2021), American college basketball player * Tony Curtis (1925–2010), American actor *

Ulysses Curtis Ulysses "Crazy Legs" Curtis (May 10, 1926 – October 6, 2013) was an American professional football player who was a running back in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Toronto Argonauts from 1950 to 1954. He won two Grey Cups with T ...

(1926–2013), American football player * Virginia Henry Curtiss Heckscher (1875–1941), president of The Heckscher Foundation for Children *

Walker M. Curtiss Walker M. Curtiss (November 1, 1852 – January 18, 1917) was an American farmer and politician. Born in the town of Salem, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, Salem, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, Curtiss lived in the community of Trevor, Wisconsin, g ...

(1852–1917), American politician *

Wayne Curtis (footballer, born 1967) ''For the English retired football striker, see Wayne Curtis.'' Mark Wayne Curtis (born 22 February 1967) is a Welsh former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Cardiff City. Born in Neath, Curtis began his career wi ...

, Welsh football player * Willa Pearl Curtis (1896–1970), American actress * William Curtis (1746–1799), English botanist *

Zelda Curtis Zelda Curtis (December 1923 – 31 January 2012) was a British journalist. She joined the Communist Party during the Second World War, and later worked for two news publications. Curtis left the Communist Party when her feminist views took prior ...

(1923–2012), English author and journalist

Fictional characters

* Randall Curtis, character on '' The Simpsons'' based on

George Lucas George Walton Lucas Jr. (born May 14, 1944) is an American filmmaker. Lucas is best known for creating the ''Star Wars'' and ''Indiana Jones'' franchises and founding Lucasfilm, LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic and THX. He served as chairm ...

* Rey Curtis, character on ''Law & Order'' *

Izumi Curtis The '' Fullmetal Alchemist'' manga and anime series feature an extensive cast of fictional characters created by Hiromu Arakawa. The story is set in a fictional universe within the 20th century in which alchemy is one of the most advanced sci ...

, character in ''Fullmetal Alchemist'' * Three brothers on The Outsiders, Ponyboy Curtis (the novel's narrator), Sodapop Curtis and Darrel "Darry" Curtis * Jackson Curtis and Kate Curtis, fictional characters from

2012 (film) ''2012'' is a 2009 American science fiction disaster film directed by Roland Emmerich. It was produced by Harald Kloser, Mark Gordon, and Larry J. Franco, and written by Kloser and Emmerich. The film stars John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Chiwe ...

* Curtis Hagen, character on

White Collar White collar may refer to: * White-collar worker, a salaried professional or an educated worker who performs semi-professional office, administrative, and sales-coordination tasks, as opposed to a blue-collar worker, whose job requires manual labor ...

Given name

People

Curtis Armstrong Curtis Armstrong (born November 27, 1953) is an American actor and singer best known for playing the role of Booger in the ''Revenge of the Nerds'' movies, Herbert Viola on the TV series ''Moonlighting'', Miles Dalby in the film '' Risky Busines ...

(born 1953), American actor *

Curtis Bolton Curtis Giles Charles Bolton III (December 18, 1995) is an American football linebacker for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oklahoma. Early years Bolton finished his senior season with 10 ...

(born 1995), American football player * Curtis Brooks (born 1998), American football player * Curtis Browning (born 1993), Australian Rugby Union player *

Curtis Bush Curtis Bush (born June 27, 1962) is an American world champion kickboxer who competed in the welterweight, super-welterweight, light-middleweight and middleweight divisions. A tall Southpaw possessing dangerous spinning back kicks and spinning ...

(born 1962), American kickboxer *

Curtis Cregan Curtis John Cregan (born January 18, 1977) is an American actor, singer, and dancer. Cregan appeared in the American version of the Australian children's television show ''Hi-5'', and also appeared in 2013's ''The Lone Ranger''. Early life C ...

(born 1977), American singer and actor *

Curtis Cheng On 2 October 2015, Farhad Khalil Mohammad Jabar, a 15-year-old boy, shot and killed Curtis Cheng, an unarmed police civilian finance worker, outside the New South Wales Police Force headquarters in Parramatta, Sydney, Australia. Jabar was subse ...

, Hong Kong-Australian unsworn police employee shot dead by an Arab extremist *

Curtis Enis Curtis Thomas Enis (born June 15, 1976) is a former American college and professional American football, football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for three seasons. He played college football for Penn State U ...

(born 1976), NFL running back * Curtis Granderson (born 1981), New York Mets outfielder * Curtis Hanson (born 1945), American filmmaker * Curtis Hodges (born 1999), American football player *

Curtis Jackson III Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), known professionally as 50 Cent, is an American rapper, actor, and businessman. Born in the South Jamaica, Queens, South Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, Jackson began pursuing a musical career in ...

(born 1975), American rapper, actor and entrepreneur (better known as 50 Cent) * Curtis Jerrells (born 1987), basketball player for Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Premier League * Curtis Joseph (born 1967), Canadian ice hockey goaltender *

Curtis Lazar Curtis Lazar (born February 2, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the first round (17th overall) of ...

, ice hockey player * Curtis Lee (1939–2015), American singer * Curtis LeMay (1906–1990), American general in the United States Air Force * Curtis Martin (born 1973), American football player * Curtis Mayfield (1942–1999), American singer-songwriter * Curtis Naughton (born 1995), English Rugby League player * Curtis Painter (born 1985), American football quarterback * Curtis Reitz (born c. 1930), Algernon Sydney Biddle Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School * Curtis Robb (born 1972), British middle-distance runner *

Curtis Robinson Curtis Robinson (born June 2, 1998) is an American football inside linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Stanford. College career Robinson was a member of the Stanford Card ...

(born 1998), American football player * Curtis Rowe (born 1949), American basketball player * Curtis Salgado (born 1954), rhythm and blues musician and singer-songwriter * Curtis Samuel (born 1996), American football player * Curtis Sironen (born 1993), Australian Rugby League player * Curtis Stigers (born 1965), American singer-songwriter * Curtis Stone (born 1975), Australian TV chef * Curtis Strange (born 1955), American professional golfer * Curtis Warren (born 1963), British criminal * Curtis Weaver (born 1998), American football player * Curtis Woodhouse (born 1980), English football player and boxer * Curtis Yarvin (born 1973), American writer

Fictional characters

* Curtis Manning, fictional character played by Jamaican-Canadian actor Roger Cross as part of the television series ''24'' *

Curtis Wilkins ''Curtis'' is a nationally syndicated comic strip written and illustrated by Ray Billingsley, with a predominantly African Americans, African American cast. The comic strip started up on October 3, 1988, and is syndicated by King Features. The ...

, fictional character from the comic strip ''Curtis'' * Curtis (Stargate), recurring character in ''Stargate Universe'' * Curtis Holt (Arrowverse), fictional character in ''Arrow on CW as Mister Terrific'' played by Actor Echo Kellum *

Curtis Donovan Curtis Donovan is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 science fiction comedy-drama ''Misfits'', portrayed by Nathan Stewart-Jarrett. Curtis appears from the series inception and was the only original character to appear in all of the f ...

, fictional character played by actor Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as part of the UK television series ''Misfits''

Middle name

People

George Curtis Smith George Curtis Smith (August 8, 1935 – April 15, 2020) was a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. Education and career Born in Columbus, Ohio, Smith received a Bachelor ...

(1935–2020), United States District Court judge *

Marron Curtis Fort Marron Curtis Fort (October 24, 1938 – December 18, 2019) was an American-born German linguist and professor who specialized in the study of Saterland Frisian and Low German (Plattdeutsch) spoken in northern Germany. Fort was a German citizen ...

(1938–2019), American-German translator and educator

Fictional characters

Amy Curtis March ''Little Women'' is a coming-of-age novel written by American novelist Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888). Alcott wrote the book, originally published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869, at the request of her publisher. The story follows the lives ...

, one of the main characters of the novel ''

Little Women ''Little Women'' is a coming-of-age novel written by American novelist Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888). Alcott wrote the book, originally published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869, at the request of her publisher. The story follows the lives ...

'' by Louisa May Alcott

References

{{given name, type=both English masculine given names English-language surnames

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