Kurtis

Kurtis is a spelling of Curtis, a first name that developed from an English surname. That surname comes from Old French vocabulary for someone courteous or courtly. Its background is therefore a descriptive nickname that became a family name, rather than a separate Germanic name created from Kurt.

The initial K gives Kurtis a different written appearance while usually preserving the sound of Curtis. Kurt can be used as an everyday shortening, although the independent name Kurt also has its own history through Konrad. Rapper Kurtis Blow provides a recognizable cultural association with this exact spelling. Families comparing Kurtis and Curtis can focus on the written form while keeping the same older courtesy meaning.