Meaning: Its source is curteis, an Old French name meaning "Courteous."

Nicknames: Kurt

Popularity: The name Kurtis ranked 849th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 734th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name appears on the 1990 U.S. Census lists, it is used by only a small percentage of the general population.

Narrative: This name was imported to England by the French-speaking Normans of the 11th century. As the conquerors' language blended with the native tongue to create Middle English, this name came to be interpreted as curt hose (short stockings) by the native English, possibly to mock unsuspecting Normans who were known by this name.