Surname Cortes - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling Ancestral Insights: How iGENEA DNA Test Uncovered Surprising Details of Cortes Lineage

Taking an iGENEA DNA test recently turned into an introspective journey when I found unexpected insights about my lineage. The test revealed features of my ancestral Cortes lineage never previously known, profoundly influencing my self-understanding.

M. Cortes

Cortes: What does the surname Cortes mean?

The last name Cortes originates from Spanish roots and means "courteous" or "polite". It is derived from the Latin term ‘cortis’, in medieval times, referring to a royal court or a courtyard enclosed by a building. In Spanish, 'corte' represents 'court', so Cortes can also mean 'courts' or 'cut'. The surname was often given to persons who were part of a royal court or a high-ranking official position. It is a popular last name in Spain and Latin America and came into prominence due to Hernán Cortés, the Spanish Conquistador who led the expedition that resulted in the fall of the Aztec Empire. Despite the variations in spelling which include Cortez, de Cortes, and Cortese, among others, most bare the same connotations and had similar derivations. Like many surnames, the exact meaning can depend on the family history and origin of the name.

Cortes: Where does the name Cortes come from?

The Cortes surname originated from Spain, particularly in the region of Aragon. The word "Cortes" in Spanish refers to a "courteous" person or derived from the place called Cortes. This surnamepatronymic of Court became well-known primarily due to Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador who led an expedition initiating the downfall of the Aztec Empire.

Today, the surname Cortes is common in Spain and Latin America, especially in Mexico due to Hernán Cortés's historical influence. Furthermore, Spanish colonial expansion spread the surname to areas like the Philippines. In addition, due to immigration patterns, it's found within the United States' Spanish-speaking communities. The variations of the surname, such as Cortez or Cortês, are common in Portugal and Brazil.

Overall, Cortes is one of the prevalent Hispanic surnames in regions with Spanish heritage or influence.

Variations of the surname Cortes

The surname Cortes has several variants, spellings, and related surnames due to regional differences, language adaptations, and historical context. Variants of the surname include Cortez, Cortese, Cortesi, and Cortezz.

In Spain, due to the tradition of using both paternal and maternal lines, hyphenated versions such as Cortes-Gomez or Cortes-Rodriguez are fairly common.

The name itself likely derives from the Spanish word "cortes," meaning "courteous," or "corte," meaning "court." Early records suggest it may have originated as a nickname for someone who lived at a royal court or perhaps for a courteous person.

It's also worth mentioning that regional variants may result in phonetic adaptations of the name: in Germany, Kortes or Kortez might be used, while in Romania it might turn into Corțeș.

Finally, keep in mind that due to Spanish naming traditions, the surname could be paired or hyphenated with another surname, leading to a variety of double-barreled surnames such as Cortes-Perez, Cortes-Marquez, etc.

Famous people with the name Cortes

• Hernan Cortes: was a Spanish Conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire.
• Alexandra Cortes: a prominent American politician who is a member of the Democratic Party serving as the U.S. Representative for New York's 14th congressional district.
• Julio Cortes: an Uruguayan writer and translator best known for his translations of literary works from French into Spanish.
• John Cortes: a Gibraltarian politician and academic who is a member of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party.
• Jason Cortes: a high-ranking business executive in the film industry serving as Head of Production and Development at Propagate Content.
• Jose Ramon Cortes: the former President of the baseball team San Francisco Giants.
• Ana Cortes: a famous Ecuadorian actress known for her film and stage work.
• Vincent Cortes: a notable French professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper.
• Francisco Javier Cortés: a professional Spanish footballer who plays as a defender.
• Carolina Cortes: a well-known Colombian journalist, author and TV presenter.
• Charlie Cortes: a professional ice hockey player from Texas.
• Caitlin Cortes: an American professional athlete known for her accomplishments in track and field.

Other surnames

CortenCortez