Kurtiss is of American origin, derived from the Scottish surname "Curties," which was an Anglicized form of the Gaelic 'Mac an t-Saoir,' meaning 'son of the stonemason.' The name Kurtiss is considered modern and unique, first appearing in the late 20th century. It gained popularity during the 1970s and 1980s among American parents seeking distinctive names for their children. Despite its recent usage as a given name, Kurtiss has not yet become widespread, making it quite uncommon. The name does not have any specific historical figures or famous individuals associated with it, allowing those named Kurtiss to create their own paths and legacies.
The name Kurtiss seems to have been moderately popular over several decades, with a notable peak in the late 1960s and early 1970s. However, it never reached extremely high numbers of births in any single year.