Surname Cortney - Meaning and Origin
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Cortney: What does the surname Cortney mean?
The last name Cortney is of English origin, typically derived from the personal name Cort, which is a short form of the name Courtland. Historically, this name was used a surname to name families who resided within a place with an association to the word ‘court’, such as a court of law or a manor. This association symbolized the old traditions of leadership within the court, whereby the surname holders were influential figures.
The name Cortney has been associated with great power, prosperity, and authority since its origins. In the Scottish Highlands area, its holders were viewed as rulers and noble, a status they have maintained until this day. In Ireland, it is understood to mean “a swift pursuit of justice” or “a passionate will to excel” – qualities that anyone bearing the name will likely be said to possess.
Those surnamed Cortney may have traits of vigour and enthusiasm, an aspiration to lead, and possibly a little bit of stubbornness. They will typically be seen as resilient and determined, and, of course, passionate, which is likely why Cortneys can be recognized for their sheer ambition and strong will even to this day.
Order DNA origin analysisCortney: Where does the name Cortney come from?
The last name Cortney is most common today in the United States and Canada. According to the United States Census Bureau, the last name Cortney ranked 1,876 out of 88,799 in popularity in the United States in 2018. In Canada, the last name Cortney ranked 5,650 out of 184,739 in popularity in 2019.
The United States and Canada have a large population of people with the last name Cortney, with a presence in every state in the United States. California, Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania have the highest populations of people with the last name Cortney, with the largest concentrations in major cities such as Los Angeles, Houston, New York City, and Philadelphia.
The last name Cortney commonly appears in records of African American descent, with many people from the Caribbean islands, such as Jamaica, with the surname. British Columbia has a large population of people of African descent, including people with the last name Cortney.
The last name Cortney is also found in other parts of the world, including Australia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and India. It is unknown exactly how many people around the world have the last name Cortney, but the number is estimated to be in the tens of thousands.
Variations of the surname Cortney
The surname Courtney is believed to have derived from the Norman-French surnames de Courtenay, de Curtenay, de Curtainy, and de Courteneys. These surnames originated from the location of Courtenay, which is a former region of north-central France, in the departments of Loiret and Eure-et-Loir. The variations and spellings of the surname Courtney are Courtnay, Corteney, Curtenay, Curtney, Curtnay, Cortney, Courtnée, Courtenay, Curtinay, Cortnie, Courtne, Cortny, Cortnye, and Courtneye.
Surnames with origins stemming from the same Norman-French name may also include Courter, Kortne, Cortni, Cortneyi, Curtnie, Curtni, Curtny, Kornteey, Courtneyy, Courtenia, Cortnee, Cortneyy, Cortnei, Courteria, Cortneigh, and Curtnee.
The surname Courtney is common in English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and Canada.
The meaning of the expression "Cortney" is believed to have derived from one of two names—either Curthose, an Old French name that means “short trousers,” or the Anglo-Norman word “curteys” which translates to “courteous” in English.
Famous people with the name Cortney
- Courtney Cox: Actor, best known for her roles in NBC's hit sitcom Friends, Scream, and Cougar Town.
- Courtney Love: Singer, songwriter, actress, and visual artist. Lead vocalist of the rock band Hole.
- Kristin Cavallari: Television personality, actress, and former fashion designer who first rose to fame as a cast member on Laguna Beach and The Hills.
- Courtney B. Vance: Actor, best known for his role as Johnnie Cochran in FX's The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.
- Quenton Cassidy: Three time Olympic Swimmer.
- Joe Courtney: U.S. Representative for Connecticut's 2nd congressional district.
- Chris Cortney: Former NFL player who played for the Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Detroit Lions.
- Courtney Paris: An American professional basketball player for Nadezhda Orenburg of the Russian league.
- Dr. Courtney E. Smith: A theoretical physicist and professor at the University of California, Berkeley.
- Courtney Force: Professional drag racing driver, daughter of John Force and currently competes in the Funny Car class.