Surname Porter - Meaning and Origin
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Porter: What does the surname Porter mean?
The last name Porter is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the Old French word “portier” which means gatekeeper or doorkeeper. This occupational surname was traditionally given to a person who worked as a gatekeeper at a large estate or castle, or as someone who carried loads for a living. The word "porter" itself has origins in Latin; from the word "porta" meaning gate or door and "portare" meaning to carry. Therefore, the surname may also indicate someone who worked in transportation of goods or in services related to travel and lodging. As a result of migration and language evolution, the name Porter has many different forms and is common among English, French, and some Jewish families. It is important to note that last names can often indicate a person's geographical location, profession, or a personal trait from several centuries ago.
Order DNA origin analysisPorter: Where does the name Porter come from?
The last name Porter is a very common surname found throughout the United States and especially in the East Coast area. It is particularly prominent in the states of Massachusetts and New York. According to US Census data, Massachusetts has 40,710 people with the Porter surname, while New York has close to 38,000.
The Porter surname is also well established in Canada and particularly in Ontario. It is among the top 250 surnames in Canada and is estimated that there are around 25,000 Porter’s living in the country.
Outside of North America, Porter is especially common in Scotland, where it is the 81st most popular surname in the country. In the United Kingdom, it is found throughout the country but especially in East Anglia.
The Porter surname has English, Scottish, Irish, and French origins where it may have been derived from a medieval profession or perhaps a place-name. It was originally an occupational name which denoted a doorkeeper or gatekeeper and was a descriptor of his job or even where the family may have originated from.
It is safe to say that the Porter surname is well established in the English-speaking world, particularly in North America and the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname Porter
The surname Porter is a legitimate spelling of the popular surname surnamed in English-speaking countries. It is also spelled in various ways, including Portier, Portor, Portur, and Portour.
The surname Porter is a very common English surname, and has a few possible origins. One possibility is as an occupational name for a doorkeeper, or the officer of a royal household who is in charge of the doors of the castle. It is derived from the Old French portier, and suggests the protected gatekeeper, or doorkeeper of a city or castle.
The surname Porter may also derive from an Old French word porte "gate," or "door," which was used as a nickname for the doorkeeper. In this case, it is derived from the French porteur, meaning "one who carries."
Additionally, Porter may be an Anglo-Saxon patronymic surname, taken from the name of the father or ancestor, with the addition of the suffix -er. It could also have derived from an English place name.
The spelling variants of Porter include: Portier, Portor, Portur, Portour, Portar, Porteer, Porteur, Portero and Porturr.
Surnames of the same origin as Porter include: Ports, Purton, Portuno, Porte, Porteous, Portgiven, Portman, Porthouse, Porterfield, Porterhouse, Portes, and Porton.
Famous people with the name Porter
- Cole Porter: American composer and songwriter during the early to mid 20th century. He wrote many popular musicals and popular songs such as “Night and Day”, “I Get a Kick Out of You” and “Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall in Love)”.
- Dorothy Porter: Australian poet, novelist, and screenwriter, best known for her verse novel The Monkey’s Mask published in 1994.
- Ella T. Porter: American market research and advertising executive with a career that included stints working for Coca-Cola and for her own market research company.
- Peter Porter: British-Australian poet who was a finalist for the T.S. Eliot Prize and won the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry.
- Roy Porter: British historian who wrote and edited extensively on British social, cultural, and intellectual history from the 17th century to the 20th.
- Anne Porter: American teacher and writer of juvenile fiction best known for her 1956 novel Ship of Fools.
- Faye Porter: American actress best known for her roles in films and television series such as American Graffiti, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and Star Trek.
- Katherine Anne Porter: American Pulitzer Prize-winning author known for her short stories and her novel Ship of Fools.
- Lillie Mae Porter: American writer, playwright, and actress of the African-American Theatre, as well as early silent era films.
- Maud Porter: American dancer, artist, and vaudeville performer, best known for her roles on Broadway and in various silent films.