Curtis is a common given name and surname of English origin derived from the Old French "curteis," which means 'polite, courteous, or well-bred.' It was brought to England (and subsequently, the rest of the Isles) via the Norman Conquest. This is evidence to suggest the name itself is a phonetic corruption of Curthose, the nickname ascribed to Robert II or also Curtmantle, the surname used by Henry II, the first of England's Plantagenet kings. It could also be a variation of the established medieval surname, Curthoys. Though it is unclear whether "Curtis" and "Curtiss" are directly related, the latter is also considered here for convenience.
Surname uses: Curtis
People
- Alison Curtis (born 1977), Canadian-Irish radio presenter
- Benjamin Robbins Curtis (1809–1874), American jurist
- Bill Curtis (born 1948), American software and organizational scientist
- Catie Curtis (born 1965), American singer-songwriter
- Charles Curtis (1860–1936), U.S. Vice President
- Charles Curtis (botanist) (1853 – 1928), English botanist who became the first superintendent of the Penang Botanic Gardens
- Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis (1850–1933), U.S. publisher
- Edwin Burr Curtiss, president of A. G. Spalding Bros.
- Edward S. Curtis (1868–1952) the photographer
- Edmund Curtis (1881-1943), Historian and Professor of History
- George Ticknor Curtis (1812–1894), U.S. politician and lawyer
- George William Curtis (1824–1892), American writer and public speaker
- Glenn Curtiss (1878-1930), American aviation pioneer and founder of the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
- Harriot Curtis (1881–1974) American golfer
- Heber Doust Curtis (1872–1942), American astronomer
- Ian Curtis (1956–1980), British singer-songwriter for Joy Division
- Jamie Lee Curtis (born 1958), American actress
- John Curtis, several people
- Kathlyn Curtis, Manitoba judge
- Kelly Curtis (born 1956), American actress
- Kevin Curtis (born 1978), professional American football player
- King Curtis (1934–1971), American saxophonist
- Mark Curtis (British author), British political author
- Mark Curtis (SWP member), former American Socialist Worker's Party member
- Mary Louise Curtis Bok, founder of the Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia
- Margaret Curtis (1883–1965) American golfer and tennis player
- Norman Curtis (1924-2009), English footballer
- Philip Kenneth Edward Curtis (1926–1951), decorated English soldier
- Richard Curtis, (born 1956) British comedy scriptwriter
- Samuel Ryan Curtis (1805–1866) Union General in the American Civil War
- Scott Curtis (born 1984), Life FM radio presenter
- Thomas Bradford Curtis (1911–1993) U.S. Representative from Missouri
- Tom Curtis, (born 1953), American artist
- Tony Curtis (born 1925), American actor
- William Curtis (1746–1799), English botanist
Fictional characters
Surname uses: Curtiss
People
- Charles Curtiss (1908–1993), American Communist
- Edward Curtiss (1898-1970), American film editor [1]
- Glenn Curtiss (1878–1930), Aviation pioneer and founder of the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
Given name uses: Curtis
People
Fictional characters
- Curtis Manning, a fictional character played by Jamaican/Canadian actor Roger Cross as part of the television series 24
- Curtis, a fictional character played by actor Spencer Breslin as part of 'The Santa Clause 2+3'
- Curtis Wilkins, a fictional character from the comic strip Curtis
- Curtis (Stargate), a recurring character in Stargate Universe
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