113,828 Global Curtis Family Members

Curtis Family History

This name derives from the Old French "Corteis" or "Curteis" meaning "refined" or "accomplished" and was originally given as a nickname to a man of good education. One Curteis de (of) Capella appears in the 1130 Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire. The surname is first recorded in the mid 12th Century (see below), and other forms of the name have included le Curetis (Devonshire, 1168) and Le Curtois (Lincolnshire, 1230). In the modern idiom, the name has twelve spelling variations including Curtis(s), Curtice, Curthoys, Cortes, and Kertess. On May 6th 1635, one Henry Curtis, aged 27 yrs., embarked from London on the ship "Elizabeth and Ann" bound for New England.

Curtis Family From Wexford

THOUGH settled in Wexford from early Norman times, Curtis families never became numerous. The name itself derives from

the Old-French Corteis or Curteis, later Cortois and Courtois, denoting courteous or a man of good education.'

The earliest record of the name in Wexford refers to Thomas Curteys in 1285.2 Thomas Curtis was a tanner in Gorey in 1619; Edmund Curtis was an 'Irish Papist' landowner at Kilmannock, Campile, in 1641.* A 'Dr. Curtis' was a schoolmaster in New Ross in 1659.5

In modern times we find a number of Curtis priests in the Diocese of Ferns. Rev.James Curtis, former Bishop's Secretary and Administrator of Wexford parish was appointed parish priest of Piercestown in 1977; Rev. Thomas Curtis, a native of New Ross, was appointed Parish Priest of Killaveney in 1980; his brother Rev. James Curtis, served on the Ferns mission in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and was appointed curate in Poulpeasty in 1982; Rev. Patrick Curtis, who died on May 10, 1915, was VicePresident of St. Peter's College, Wexford.

David Curtis, Raheenvarren, Newbawn, is a well known national teacher.

The name is also prominent in the public life of the county through James Curtis, Loughnageer, Foulksmills, a long time member and chairman of Wexford Co. Council in 1986.