Curtis first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Curtis has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Curtis

A masculine name of Old French origin meaning "courteous" or "polite".

Popularity of Curtis by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Curtis is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Curtis being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 255 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Curtis.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 255 0
2022 298 0
2021 317 0
2020 359 0
2019 392 0
2018 438 0
2017 432 0
2016 508 0
2015 541 0
2014 525 0
2013 585 0
2012 625 0
2011 623 0
2010 650 0
2009 767 0
2008 808 0
2007 952 0
2006 915 0
2005 960 0
2004 950 0
2003 907 0
2002 1,024 0
2001 1,124 0
2000 1,240 5
1999 1,270 0
1998 1,408 0
1997 1,496 0
1996 1,644 0
1995 1,709 6
1994 1,869 5
1993 2,098 7
1992 2,321 0
1991 2,590 10
1990 2,802 17
1989 2,964 20
1988 2,907 25
1987 2,909 31
1986 2,910 26
1985 2,943 27
1984 2,957 20
1983 2,846 26
1982 2,939 27
1981 3,197 28
1980 3,332 26
1979 3,202 26
1978 2,826 27
1977 2,606 31
1976 2,451 21
1975 2,329 15
1974 2,590 15

The history of the first name Curtis

The name Curtis is an English masculine given name of Old French origin. It derives from the Old French word "courtois", which means "courtly", "polite", or "well-bred". This word itself comes from the Latin word "curtis", meaning "court" or "courtyard".

The name Curtis first appeared in medieval England during the Norman conquest of the 11th century. It was initially used as a descriptive surname for someone who was associated with a court or who exhibited courtly manners. Over time, it transitioned into use as a masculine given name.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name Curtis was Curtis de Peitevin, a Norman knight who lived in the late 11th century. He is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a record of landholders commissioned by William the Conqueror.

Another notable historical figure with the name Curtis was Curtis Mayfield (1942-1999), an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and one of the most influential figures in soul, funk, and rhythm and blues music. He was a highly influential artist and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.

Curtis LeMay (1906-1990) was a highly decorated American general who played a crucial role in the strategic bombing campaigns against Germany and Japan during World War II. He later served as the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.

Curtis Bernhardt (1899-1981) was a German-American film director and producer who worked in both Hollywood and Europe. Some of his notable films include "Mildred Pierce" (1945) and "The Bribe" (1949).

Curtis Mayfield (1942-1999), an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and one of the most influential figures in soul, funk, and rhythm and blues music, is another prominent bearer of the name. He was a highly influential artist and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.

Curtis Hanson (1945-2016) was an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for directing the critically acclaimed films "L.A. Confidential" (1997), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and "Wonder Boys" (2000).

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Curtis was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Curtis, please contact us.

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"Curtis first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/curtis-meaning-and-history/.

"Curtis first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/curtis-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Curtis first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/curtis-meaning-and-history/.

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