Charles Curtis. Origin: Old Family Name.

The surname Curtis is found in the 1731, 1734, and 1740 Census of the Bahamas on New Providence. Charles Curtis received 60 acres of land in the Burnt Grand area, a cay in Jew Fish Pond of Long Island. His name appears only on the Tatnall map. The Lands and Surveys map shows this land as granted to Catherine Curtis. Her land grant was issued on 10 July 1789 for 50 acres.

The Curtis name is found in the 1740 Bahamas Census and other early records of the Bahamas. A Neptune is listed in the 1740 Census, with wife, Frances, and children, Charity, Richard, Andrew, and Faith. Neptune (to whom we refer as Neptune Sr., although he was at least the second Neptune) is also listed in the census in a separate household with wife, Elizabeth, and son Neptune Jr. This means there were three Neptune Curtises listed in 1740, and per the 1734 Firzwilliam Census, this was a “Free Black or Mulatto” family.

References: Censuses as stated above.