Map of England showing where the Cortis arms are recorded
The Cortis arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Cortis arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Cortis Family in England
The family name Cortis is rooted in the Latin word *curtis*, which historically referred to a courtyard, an enclosed farmstead, or a manor. During the medieval period, this term was often used as a descriptive label for someone who lived near or worked upon such an estate. By the time the name appeared in the historical records of York in 1620, the family had likely transitioned from being associated with a specific piece of land to using the name as a permanent hereditary surname. Living in a major city like York suggests that early members of the family were likely involved in the vibrant trade and craft guilds that defined the region during the seventeenth century. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the urban development and economic life of Northern England during a time of significant cultural change.
Cortis Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Curtis
Derived from the Old French word meaning courteous or refined.
This name
CortisA locational or occupational surname denoting a person of polite or courtly manners.
also spelled
Curtis
Curtiss
Related arms
Curtisvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York, Archbishop of York’s Diocesan Records: Parish Registers of York St. Martin-le-Grand, 1620
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griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
