Kurtiss

Meaning & origin

Kurtiss is a rare modern spelling of Curtis, a name that has been used in English since the Middle Ages. While Curtis ranked among the top 100 names for boys in the mid-20th century, Kurtiss never cracked the top 1000. Its peak year was 1968, when it saw its highest recorded usage, though even then it was infrequent. Born from a trend of replacing 'C' with 'K', Kurtiss reflects a desire for a distinctive twist on a traditional name. Despite its low frequency, the name has a stable trajectory, suggesting steady but minimal adoption over decades. Top states for the name are not statistically significant due to its rarity, but it likely appears most often in states with higher populations.

Kurtiss is a modern respelling of Curtis, a name that entered English via Old French 'curteis' meaning 'courteous' or 'refined'. Curtis was used as a surname before becoming a given name in the 19th century. The variant Kurtiss emerged in the mid-20th century, likely influenced by the popularity of names beginning with 'K'.