Kurtis
Derived from the German word "kurz", meaning short or diminutive.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 446 Americans carry the last name Kurtis. That puts it at #55,619 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.13 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 768,507 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kurtis surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
446
1 in 768,507
Census rank
#55,619
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
369
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 369 bearers of the surname Kurtis in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.13 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 55619th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kurtis, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.1%) and Black (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Kurtis
The surname Kurtis is of German origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Germanic personal name Kuonrat, which is composed of the elements "kuon," meaning "brave" or "bold," and "rat," meaning "counsel" or "advice." This name was popularized among German-speaking populations during the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Kurtis can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony, Germany, dating back to the 13th century. The name is mentioned in reference to a landowner or nobleman named Konrad Kurtis, who held properties in the region.
The Kurtis surname has also been associated with several notable figures throughout history. In the 16th century, there was a German Protestant reformer named Andreas Kurtis (1484-1546), who was a prominent figure during the Reformation era and played a significant role in the spread of Lutheran teachings.
During the 17th century, a German artist named Johann Kurtis (1604-1670) gained recognition for his intricate woodcarvings and sculptures, which adorned churches and cathedrals across various German cities.
In the 19th century, a German philosopher and writer named Friedrich Kurtis (1822-1896) made significant contributions to the field of ethics and moral philosophy, publishing several influential works that explored the concept of duty and its role in human behavior.
Another notable figure with the surname Kurtis was a German military officer named Otto Kurtis (1888-1945), who served in the German army during World War I and later became involved in the resistance movement against the Nazi regime during World War II.
While the surname Kurtis has its origins in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration patterns and cultural exchange. However, many of the earliest and most significant historical references to this surname can be traced back to its German roots and the individuals who bore this name in various regions of Germany throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kurtis
Among Census respondents with the surname Kurtis, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.1%) and Black (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Kurtis bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Kurtis surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.7%
- Hispanic or Latino4.1%
- Black or African American2.7%
- Unknown or suppressed2.2%
- Two or more races1.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Kurtis surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #56,526 | #55,619 | 1.6% |
| Count | 338 | 369 | 9.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Kurtis bearers went from 338 to 369 (+9.2% change). The surname moved up 907 positions in the national ranking, going from #56,526 to #55,619.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Kurtis
FAQ
Kurtis surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Kurtis?
The surname Kurtis holds position #55,619 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 446 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.13 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Kurtis surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kurtis, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.1%) and Black (2.7%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.