Cortés Coat of Arms & Family Crest
Where the Cortés name began, what it means, and how Herald Lab researches a Cortés coat of arms.
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Origin of the Cortés name
Cortés means "courteous, polite" in Spanish, from corte, "court". It began as a nickname for a well-mannered person, or for someone connected with a noble court. The surname is common across Spain and Latin America; Hernán Cortés made one line historically famous.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Cortés name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Cortés name in Spain. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Mexico, Chile and the United States; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Cortés name FAQ
What does the Cortés name mean?
Courteous. Common variants include Cortez, Cortese, De Cortés.
Where does the Cortés surname come from?
It originates in Spain, and is also found in Mexico, Chile and the United States.
Is there a Cortés coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Cortés crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Cortés coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Roberto Faure, María Asunción Ribes & Antonio García, Diccionario de apellidos españoles (Espasa, 2001); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).