Two Old French words "Corteis" or "Curteis" which mean "refined" or "accomplished." The name was originally given as a nickname to a man of outstanding education, also a man of refinement.

Additional spellings include: Curtiss, Curtice, Curthoys, Cortes and Kertess.

Locations in the United States with Curtis family members is New York, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio.

In England, the Curtis families are mostly centered in the London region and some in the southwest region of England.

A large percentage of worked as farmers in the 1880s.

Famous: Tony Curtis (actor), Samuel Ryan Curtis (American General during Civil War), Margaret Curtis (professional golf and tennis player), Jamie Lee Curtis (actress) and Charles Curtis (U. S. Vice President from 1929 to 1933).