What is the Meaning and origin of the name Curt?

Question

No not the word, the name.....

Answer 1

The name "Curt" in English comes from two DIFFERENT words. If the full name is actually "Curtis" take the second one. If not, it might be from either source..

Curt < the German "Kurt"
Curt < abbreviation of "Curtis"

German "Kurt" is from "Conrad" -- derived from the Germanic elements kuon "bold" and rad "counsel, advice" and so meaning 'bold advisor.'
http://www.behindthename.com/php/view.php?name=Kurt
http://www.behindthename.com/php/view.php?name=conrad

The name "Curtis" comes from a French form meaning "courteous" or better "courtly" (and ultimately goes back to Latin). In other words, not with the modern sense of "polite" but in the sense of "courtly" that is, "of the (royal) court." (For what it's worth, the Spanish version is "Cortez".)
http://www.behindthename.com/php/view.php?name=Curtis
http://www.aboutnames.ch/HMC.htm#gnCurtis

To clarify the matter for those who take the French word back to its Latin roots and get confused

The Latin word "curt" meant "enclosure" -- from which the word "court" came. Think esp. of a royal court -which at first referred to the lage place where they met, then to the people who met there.

Medieval feudal courts were associated with good education, good behavior and also beauty. Someone belonging to the royal COURT In feudal society was called "courtly" or "courteous", and all these ideas could be attached to it. Eventually the word was used to describe the sort of good behavior expected at court, even away from the original court setting.
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=courteous

Answer 2

Curt (Latin) a short form of Courtney, Curtis.

Curtis (Latin) enclosure (French) courteous

I find a little interesting that Curt, which as a word does not at all mean courteous, can have that meaning as a name. I'll have to research the etymology of that a little farther and see if they're in any way connected.

Answer 3

Curt - Latin for Tent enclosure, short