NameCensus.

UK surname

Cortese

An Italian surname derived from the word "cortese," meaning courteous or polite.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Coventry, Kettering and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cortese is 118 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

112

2016, ranked #28,844

Peak year

2012

118 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016, ranked #28,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Cortese surname distribution map

The map shows where the Cortese surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Cortese surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cortese over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1997 modern 64 #31,233
1998 modern 75 #30,471
1999 modern 75 #30,661
2000 modern 74 #30,785
2001 modern 74 #30,600
2002 modern 82 #30,181
2003 modern 84 #29,978
2004 modern 84 #30,244
2005 modern 76 #31,267
2006 modern 82 #30,933
2007 modern 89 #30,383
2008 modern 92 #30,286
2009 modern 97 #30,076
2010 modern 108 #28,996
2011 modern 106 #29,157
2012 modern 118 #27,250
2013 modern 109 #29,209
2014 modern 109 #29,452
2015 modern 109 #29,327
2016 modern 112 #28,844

Geography

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Where Corteses are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Coventry, Kettering, Kensington and Chelsea and Bedford. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Coventry 027 Coventry
2 Kettering 010 Kettering
3 Kensington and Chelsea 010 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Bedford 008 Bedford
5 Coventry 033 Coventry

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cortese

These lists show first names that appear often with the Cortese surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cortese

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cortese, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Cortese surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Cortese household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Cortese is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cortese is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cortese falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cortese is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Cortese, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cortese

The surname Cortese originates from Italy, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Italian word "corte," meaning "court" or "courtyard," suggesting that the name may have been associated with someone who lived or worked near a courtyard or castle. Alternatively, it could also be related to the word "cortese," meaning "courteous" or "polite," implying that the name was initially given to someone known for their polite demeanor.

One of the earliest mentions of the name Cortese can be found in a document from the city of Genoa, dated around 1150, where a person named Guglielmo Cortese is listed as a witness to a property transaction. This indicates that the name was already in use among the Italian population by the 12th century.

During the 13th century, the Cortese family gained prominence in the city of Pavia, where they were involved in local politics and held influential positions. In 1278, a certain Giacomo Cortese is recorded as serving as a magistrate in Pavia, further cementing the family's standing in the region.

In the 14th century, a branch of the Cortese family migrated to Sicily, where they established themselves as landowners and influential members of the local nobility. One notable figure from this period was Vincenzo Cortese (1335-1402), a wealthy landowner and patron of the arts, who commissioned several religious artworks for churches in Palermo.

As the centuries passed, the Cortese name continued to spread across various regions of Italy, with notable individuals emerging in different fields. One such individual was Antonio Cortese (1495-1571), a renowned humanist scholar and Catholic prelate, who served as the Bishop of Urbino and was known for his writings on theology and philosophy.

In the realm of literature, Giulio Cesare Cortese (1570-1640) was a celebrated Italian poet and playwright from Naples, whose works were widely acclaimed during the Baroque period. His most famous play, "La Calandra," is considered a masterpiece of Renaissance comedy.

The Cortese name has also been associated with the wine industry, particularly in the Piedmont region of Italy. The Cortese grape variety is used to produce the renowned Gavi wine, and several prominent winemaking families bear this surname, including the Cortese family of Gavi, whose vineyards date back to the 17th century.

Other notable individuals with the surname Cortese include Nino Cortese (1899-1984), an Italian film director and screenwriter best known for his collaboration with Federico Fellini on the classic movie "La Strada"; and Giacomo Cortese (1513-1598), an Italian architect and sculptor who designed several notable buildings in the city of Naples.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Cortese surname: questions and answers

How common is the Cortese surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016. That gives Cortese a modern rank of #28,844.

What does the Cortese surname mean?

An Italian surname derived from the word "cortese," meaning courteous or polite.

What does the Cortese map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cortese bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.