Pertus History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland/England
England

Early Origins of the Pertus family

The surname Pertus was first found in Peeblesshire, where they were settled at Hawkshaw. "John Pertus of Glenkirk in record 1443, also owned lands in Fife. George Portwis held the lands of Glenkirk in 1478-1484. John Portewis had charter in 1513 of the lands of Glenkirk and Quhitslaid, and Sir William Portus was chaplain in the parish church of S. Rega of Kilbucho, 1550. James Pourtes, glover, in Edinburgh, 1670. Perhaps of local origin from some place like 'Porthouse.' " 1 Guillaume Porteuse (later William Porteous,) arrived from Normandy, circa 1400. 2

In England, the name may have been a "nickname, 'port-horse,' i.e. a pack-horse; compare porter, a carrier, also portfolio and portmanteau denoting a hardworking, plodding man" 3 or from Portways, a location name in Oxfordshire. 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include: Robert Portehors, John Portehors and Ralph Portehors, but no locations are provided. 3 The Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III. included an entry for Ralph Portehors, 20 Edward I (during the twentieth year of Edward I's reign.) 5

Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls include and listing of Robertus de Porterhouse as holding lands there at that time. 3

Early History of the Pertus family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pertus research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1443, 1454, 1478, 1479, 1484, 1527, 1549, 1550, 1561, 1563, 1670, 1672, 1701, 1735, 1736, 1757, 1759, 1760, 1764, 1770, 1774, 1785, 1807, 1813 and 1817 are included under the topic Early Pertus History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pertus Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Porteous, Portieous, Porteus, Porteas, Pertus and others.

Early Notables of the Pertus family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was John Porteous (d. 1736), captain of the Edinburgh city guard who was lynched by a mob for his part in the killing of innocent civilians during the command to quell a disturbance which was later named The Porteous Riots. He was the son of Stephen Porteous, a tailor in the Canongate, Edinburgh, and was bred to his father's business; but his unsteady habits and violent temper led to serious quarrels with his parents, and he enlisted in the army. After serving for some time in Holland he returned home, and ultimately...
Another 196 words (14 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pertus Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pertus family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Edward Porteous, his wife Margaret, and their son John, who all arrived in Virginia in 1675; George Porteous, who arrived in Barbados in 1666; John Porteous, who came to New York in 1786.

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)