Cortese
An Italian surname that likely began as a nickname from a word meaning “courteous” or “polite.”
The #7,844 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 73,145 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Cortese is generally explained from Italian cortese, meaning “courteous,” “polite,” or “gracious.” That Italian word comes ultimately from Latin cortes, curia-related forms, with the sense of courtly behavior or manner. In surname use, it would have started as a nickname for someone seen as refined, polite, or court-like.
History
The name is well established in Italy and is still found there today, especially in southern and central regions. Like many descriptive surnames, it likely arose independently in more than one place from the same common adjective. In English-language sources of the 19th century it was sometimes linked with other “Court-” surnames, reflecting the same broad idea of courtesy or courtly manners.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname can look deceptively like a place name, but its core meaning is social: being “well-mannered” or “courtly.”
From the historical record
“than with a palace. CURTIS (€..), CURTEIS (XN.),C0URT0IS (£.), CORTESE (Jt.), Courteous. There is a somewhat similar name in Holland, — Donker Curtius, Dark Curtius ; but this is probably the Latin, Short. There is also a village in Normandy called Les Courtis ; i. e.. The Gardens.”
— Surnames