Curtis or Curtiss is a common English given name and surname of Anglo-Norman origin from the

Old French Old French (, , ; Modern French: ) was the language spoken in most of the northern half of France from approximately the 8th to the 14th centuries. Rather than a unified language, Old French was a linkage of Romance dialects, mutually intelligi ...

''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

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 The Norman Conquest (or the Conquest) was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army made up of thousands of Norman, Breton, Flemish, and French troops, all led by the Duke of Normandy, later styled William the Conq ...

. 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 The following is a list of English-speaking population by country, including information on both native speakers and second-language speakers. List * The European Union is a supranational union composed of 27 member states. The total ...

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

Surname

People

Adam Curtis Adam Curtis (born 26 May 1955) is an English documentary filmmaker. Curtis began his career as a conventional documentary producer for the BBC throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s. The release of '' Pandora's Box'' (1992) marked t ...

(born 1955), English television documentarian *

Alan Curtis (disambiguation) Alan Curtis may refer to: * Alan Curtis (American actor) (1909–1953), American film actor * Alan Curtis (British actor) (1930–2021), English actor and cricket announcer * Alan Curtis (footballer) (born 1954), former Welsh international footb ...

, multiple people *

Alice Turner Curtis Alice Turner Curtis (September 6, 1860 – July 10, 1958) was an American writer of juvenile historical fiction. She was probably best remembered by young readers of her day for ''The Little Maid's Historical Series'' (which comprises twenty-fou ...

(1860–1958), American writer *

Alison Curtis Alison "Ally" Curtis (born 1 November 1977 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada) is a presenter of radio on Irish radio station Today FM She currently presents her own show, "Saturday Breakfast with Alison Curtis" on Today FM which airs every Saturday ...

(born 1977), Canadian-Irish radio presenter *

Allen Curtis Allen Curtis (1877 – November 24, 1961), was an American film director of the silent era. He directed 278 films between 1913 and 1922. He was born in New York, New York and died in Hollywood, California. Selected filmography * ''The T ...

(1877–1961), American film director *

Andrew Curtis (cricketer) Andrew David Curtis (born 1943) is a former English cricketer with Bedfordshire and Oxford University. Career Andrew David Curtis was born on 12 January 1943 in Bedford and was educated at Elstow Primary School, Bedford Modern School, the Un ...

(born 1943), English cricketer *

Anne Curtis Anne Curtis-Smith(; born 17 February 1985) is a Filipino-Australian actress, model, television host, entrepreneur and recording artist. She is dubbed as the "''Multimedia Superstar''" for her talent and influence. Curtis has received numerou ...

(born 1985), Philippine actress *

Anthony Curtiss Anthony Curtiss, pen name of Roy Abijah Curtiss Jr (born in Brooklyn, New York 10 May 1910, died 12 July 1981 in Karachi, Pakistan), also known in his later life as Muhammad Abdullah al-Hussein, was an American naturalist who wrote a short, and s ...

(1919–1981), American naturalist, elder brother of Sydney Curtiss and Thomas Quinn Curtiss *

Aubyn Curtiss Aubyn Curtiss (July 1, 1925 – August 9, 2017) was an American politician in the state of Montana Montana () is a U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West List of regions of the United States#Census Bureau-designated ...

(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) (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 (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, American chemist * Edwin Curtis (1906–1999), English Anglican archbishop in Mauritius * Elden Francis Curtiss (born 1932), American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church * Emma Curtiss Bascom (1828–1916), American educator, suffragist and reformer *George M. Curtis (New York politician) (1840–1915), American lawyer, politician and judge *

George Ticknor Curtis George Ticknor Curtis (November 28, 1812 – March 28, 1894) was an American historian, lawyer, and writer. Biography Curtis was born in Watertown, Massachusetts, and graduated from Harvard University in 1832 and then Harvard Law School. After ...

(1812–1894), American politician and lawyer * George William Curtis (1824–1892), American writer and public speaker *

Glenn Curtiss Glenn Hammond Curtiss (May 21, 1878 – July 23, 1930) was an American aviation and motorcycling pioneer, and a founder of the U.S. aircraft industry. He began his career as a bicycle racer and builder before moving on to motorcycles. As early ...

(1878–1930), American aviation pioneer *

(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 (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 (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 (1939–2013), American musician * Margaret Curtis (1883–1965), American golfer and tennis player * Mark Curtis (British author), British political author * Mark Curtis (SWP member) (born 1959), former American Socialist Worker's Party member * Martha E. Sewall Curtis (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), 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 (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 (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 (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 (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), 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 ''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical depiction of American life, epitomized by the Simpson family, which consists of Homer Simpson, Homer, Marge ...

'' based on George Lucas * 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) * 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 (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 (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 (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, 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'' by Louisa May Alcott

References

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

Surname

People

Fictional characters

Given name

People

Fictional characters

Middle name

People

Fictional characters

See also

References