Surname Portieous - Meaning and Origin
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Portieous: What does the surname Portieous mean?
Portieous is a surname of Scottish origin. It comes from the old French term ‘porteous’ or ‘porteux’, which means 'gatekeeper' or 'porter'. The surname was likely used as an occupational name for a gatekeeper, someone who was responsible for guarding the entrance of a castle or walled town. It could also have been used for a person living near a gate or a significant archway. It's also common for this surname to appear in various spellings due to its phonetic nature, it can be spelled in many ways such as Porteous, Porteious, Porteuous, and others. As with most surnames, its meaning and origins can differ across regions and families, so it may also have other significances in certain places or periods.
Order DNA origin analysisPortieous: Where does the name Portieous come from?
The surname Portieous is an uncommon surname. It originated in Scotland, tracing its roots back to ancient Clan Mackintosh. It is less commonly found in England.
Portieous appears to be a sept of the Clan Mackintosh, one of numerous branches of a major Scottish clan in the Scottish Highlands. Its members descended from the same root family, and shared the same surname. Today, the surname exists mainly in Scotland, however some members can also be found in England, many of whom are descendants of early Scottish settlers.
There are some more modern family lines with this surname, particularly in the United States and other parts of the Americas. This is due to emigration from Scotland to the Americas in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Overall, the surname Portieous is somewhat uncommon in the modern day. It is still found in Scotland and England, as well as other parts of the world due to emigration during the 18th and 19th centuries. However, the surname is relatively rare today.
Variations of the surname Portieous
The surname Portieous has many different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants of Portieous are Porteous, Porteis, Porteous, Porteus, and Porteous. All of these alternatives are derived from either the Old French word "portal" or the medieval Latin "portus," which mean "gate." This name was popular among the Normans and was likely derived from a location, such as a gate or port.
The surnames Porty, Porteys, Portias, Porteous, Porteus, Portis, and Portyous are all variants of the same root and may also stem from Old French or Latin place names. The spelling variation Porthy is also derived from a place-name, likely from a Norman family from Porthieu in France.
Other spellings and surnames of the same origin include Purtan, Portny, Porten, Portney, Portin, Portun, Portuna, Portinley, Portinia, Porzio, Portillo, Pordi, Porto, Portin, Preteus, Priteus, Pritchery, Pryse, Pryce, and Prichard.
The Portieous surname can also be found in Scotland, as well as in England and Ireland. In Scotland, it is typically spelled Purdie, Purdy, Purdon, and Purdom, which may be derived from different sources, including a Norman location in France. Variations of the same root can also be found in Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
Famous people with the name Portieous
- Anton Protasiewicz: Polish politician
- Bonnie Portieous: Former BBC Scotland presenter
- David Porteous: Former Commissioner for Children in Scotland
- Ian Porteous: Architect
- Ian Porteous: Golfer
- Jack Porteous: Fencer
- Mark Porteous: Footballer
- Walter Porteous: Victoria Cross recipient
- John Lumsden Porteous: WWI Victoria Cross recipient