Cortesi Surname Meaning & Coat of Arms

A coat of arms belongs to a particular family line rather than to everyone named Cortesi, so the heraldry linked to Cortese is a starting point, not an automatic right.

Family name meaning

Some records give Cortese; others give Cortesi. Both point to the same Italian family name. The family name meaning is “a nickname for a courteous person”, the same as for Cortese.

How the spelling arose

The change of ending between Cortese and Cortesi reflects the Italian habit of naming a family in the plural or the singular. You may also find the name written Cortesini.

Research your Cortesi family history with a full surname report and painted coat of arms.