The given name Cortez is a Spanish name that originated in the 15th century during the Age of Exploration and the Spanish conquest of the Americas. It is derived from the Spanish word "cortés," which means courteous or polite.

The name Cortez is closely associated with Hernán Cortés, the famous Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire in present-day Mexico. Hernán Cortés was born in 1485 in Medellín, Spain, and he arrived in Mexico in 1519, where he eventually conquered the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán in 1521.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Cortez can be found in the chronicles of the Spanish conquest of Mexico, which were written by various Spanish conquistadors and historians during the 16th century. These chronicles documented the exploits of Hernán Cortés and his men, and the name Cortez became synonymous with the Spanish conquest of the Americas.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the name Cortez. Here are five examples:

1. Hernán Cortés (1485-1547), the Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztec Empire.
2. Juan Cortés (c. 1451-1527), a Spanish navigator and explorer who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas.
3. Martín Cortés (1532-1589), the son of Hernán Cortés and his interpreter and mistress, Doña Marina.
4. José Cortés Arredondo (1825-1892), a Mexican general and politician who served as the Governor of Veracruz in the 1860s.
5. Pablo Cortés (1892-1980), a Chilean poet and diplomat who served as the Chilean ambassador to several countries.

While the name Cortez has its origins in Spain and the Spanish conquest of the Americas, it has since spread to other parts of the world and has been adopted by individuals from various cultural backgrounds.