The name Courtney has two meanings:
1. From a surname, which is derived from the French place names called Courtenay in the regions of Loiret and Gatinais. The place names
could be derived from a Gallo-Roman landlord "Curtenus" (a derivative of the Latin "curtus" meaning "short"), combined with the locational suffix "acum".
2. From a nickname for a person who had a snub nose (derived from the Old French words "court" - "short" and "nes" - "nose").
Famous bearers
Bearers include Courtney Love (born 1964), an American musician and actress, best known as the lead singer for the alternative rock band Hole and for her marriage to Nirvana leader Kurt Cobain;
Courtney Gains (born 1965), an American actor;
Courtney Thorne-Smith (born 1967), an American actress;
Courtney Peldon (born 1981), an American television and film actress.
