Curtiss Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KER-tiss //ˈkɜːrtɪs//
Origin: English; Latin
Meaning: English: Courteous; Latin: Short form of Curtis
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Curtiss has its roots in the Old French name "Curtis," which is derived from the Latin word "curtus," meaning "short" or "courteous." The transition from Latin to Old French occurred during the medieval period, when the Norman Conquest in the 11th century facilitated the introduction of many Latin-derived names into the English language. As the name evolved, it became associated with the qualities of courtesy and refinement, which were highly valued in medieval society.
The name Curtis was adopted into Middle English, retaining its original connotations while becoming more widely used in England. Historically, the name Curtiss and its variants have been borne by notable figures throughout the centuries.
One significant milestone is the appearance of the name in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was recorded as a surname, indicating its use among the Anglo-Norman nobility. The name gained further prominence through various individuals in English history, including landowners and knights during the medieval period.
Additionally, the name Curtis is mentioned in literary works from the 16th century onward, reflecting its integration into English culture. Culturally, the name Curtiss has been associated with themes of nobility and honor, resonating with the chivalric ideals of the time.
The name's connection to courtesy and respect has allowed it to endure in various forms, including the diminutive "Curt" or "Curtie," which has been used affectionately in familial contexts. Overall, the name Curtiss encapsulates a rich historical tapestry, linking its bearers to a legacy of respect and social standing that has persisted through the ages.
Famous people named Curtiss
In this section, you will find notable people named Curtiss. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Curtiss who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Curtiss who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company is a historical aviation company best known for the Curtiss JN-4 Jenny, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, and the Curtiss C-46 Commando.
Curtiss Blow is a rapper best known for The Breaks, Christmas Rappin', and being a pioneer of hip hop music.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Curtiss, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Curtiss. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Curtiss was first seen in the United States in 1896.
Curtiss has ranked as high as #1007 nationally, which occurred in 1959, and has been most popular in California, Illinois, Ohio, New York, and Wisconsin.
In the past 5 years the name Curtiss has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Curtiss is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Curtiss was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Curtiss (2002)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| WI | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Curtiss.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2010 | 14 |
| 2009 | 13 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2002 | 13 |
| 2001 | 11 |
| 2000 | 13 |
| 1999 | 18 |
| 1998 | 18 |
| 1997 | 18 |
| 1996 | 21 |
| 1995 | 12 |
| 1994 | 26 |
| 1993 | 39 |
| 1992 | 16 |
| 1991 | 32 |
| 1990 | 32 |
| 1989 | 46 |
| 1988 | 40 |
| 1987 | 37 |
| 1986 | 32 |
| 1985 | 37 |
| 1984 | 34 |
| 1983 | 30 |
| 1982 | 50 |
| 1981 | 35 |
| 1980 | 38 |
| 1979 | 45 |
| 1978 | 41 |
| 1977 | 39 |
| 1976 | 34 |
| 1975 | 42 |
| 1974 | 35 |
| 1973 | 47 |
| 1972 | 47 |
| 1971 | 60 |
| 1970 | 73 |
| 1969 | 79 |
| 1968 | 59 |
| 1967 | 61 |
| 1966 | 58 |
| 1965 | 51 |
| 1964 | 77 |
| 1963 | 111 |
| 1962 | 99 |
| 1961 | 108 |
| 1960 | 89 |
| 1959 | 126 |
| 1958 | 93 |
| 1957 | 104 |
| 1956 | 102 |
| 1955 | 109 |
| 1954 | 81 |
| 1953 | 98 |
| 1952 | 75 |
| 1951 | 88 |
| 1950 | 71 |
| 1949 | 86 |
| 1948 | 86 |
| 1947 | 73 |
| 1946 | 79 |
| 1945 | 72 |
| 1944 | 72 |
| 1943 | 91 |
| 1942 | 82 |
| 1941 | 77 |
| 1940 | 63 |
| 1939 | 60 |
| 1938 | 61 |
| 1937 | 62 |
| 1936 | 53 |
| 1935 | 74 |
| 1934 | 53 |
| 1933 | 51 |
| 1932 | 63 |
| 1931 | 58 |
| 1930 | 51 |
| 1929 | 71 |
| 1928 | 51 |
| 1927 | 55 |
| 1926 | 41 |
| 1925 | 44 |
| 1924 | 40 |
| 1923 | 51 |
| 1922 | 44 |
| 1921 | 36 |
| 1920 | 42 |
| 1919 | 37 |
| 1918 | 35 |
| 1917 | 33 |
| 1916 | 38 |
| 1915 | 27 |
| 1914 | 21 |
| 1913 | 18 |
| 1912 | 14 |
| 1911 | 5 |
| 1910 | 8 |
| 1909 | 11 |
| 1907 | 5 |
| 1896 | 6 |