The Italian, Spanish and French surname of LA CORTE was derived from the Old French word 'curteis' meaning courteous, in feudal society one of courtly manners, a well educated man. It was a popular surname from the 13th century onwards throughout Europe in many forms which include CURTIS, CORTIS, CORTESO and CORTESI. As the agricultural depression of southern Italy worsened towards the end of the 19th century, people began to escape to the New World. The exodus started in earnest in 1887 with Brazil and other parts of Latin America being the original destinations. By 1893, the economy had improved in the United States and people headed there from Italy in greater and greater numbers. In 1898 there were more Italian immigrants to the USA than from any other country. In the post war era, more than a quarter of Italians left the country for a new life. They joined a flood of immigrants to America which was averaging a million a year in the pre war years. The origins of Italian surnames are not clear, and much work remains to be done on medieval Italian records. It seems that fixed bynames, in some cases hereditary, were in use in the Venetian Republic by the end of the 10th century. The typical Italian surname endings are 'i' and 'o', the former being characteristic of northern Italy. The singular form 'o' is more typical of southern Italy. In the 8th century, Spain fell under the control of the Moors, and this influence, which lasted into the 12th century, has also left its mark on Hispanic surnames. A few names are based directly on Arabic personal names. The majority of Spanish occupational and nickname surnames, however, are based on ordinary Spanish derivatives. A notable member of the name was Hernando CORTES (l485-l547) Spanish conquistador and conqueror of Mexico, born of noble family in Medellin, in Estremadura. In l504 he sailed for San Domingo and accompanied Diego Velazquez de Cuellar in his expedition to Cuba. Fired by the discoveries of Alvarado and others, Velazques fitted out a small expedition of 550 men with l7 horses and l0 cannon against Mexico, the command of which he gave to Cortes. In May l528 he returned to Spain where he was received with honour by Charles V and created a marquis. |
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