Porter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
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In the times when people first began to use surnames, many, such as the ancestors of the Porter family, adopted their occupation as their surname. Porter was an occupational name for a gatekeeper or watchman deriving its origin from the Old French word "portier," meaning "doorman." The meaning was sometimes extended to mean the keeper of the castle. 1 2

Early Origins of the Porter family

The surname Porter was first found in Hampshire, where Hugh de Port was listed in the Domesday Book as a major land holder. "Soon after the Conquest, Bicton Manor [Sidmouth, Devonshire] was granted to one of the Norman followers of William a certain William the Porter, whose duty it was to keep the door of the gaol, and who held Bicton by this service. This tenure continued for some 700 years, down to the year 1787; and the early owners of the manor-house at different periods took the names Portitor, De Porta, De la Porte, and Janitor." 3

A Milo Portarius, worked as a porter at the jail or castle of Winchester and was also listed in Hampshire in the Domesday Book. 4 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Robert le Porter. 2

Early History of the Porter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Porter research. Another 218 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1183, 1190, 1202, 1263, 1296, 1330, 1356, 1390, 1394, 1587, 1599, 1622, 1636, 1640, 1648, 1649, 1660, 1680, 1683, 1686, 1689, 1692, 1695, 1696 and 1702 are included under the topic Early Porter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Porter Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Porter, Pawter, Poreter, Portar and others.

Early Notables of the Porter family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Porter World Ranking

In the United States, the name Porter is the 129th most popular surname with an estimated 171,603 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Porter is ranked the 301st most popular surname with an estimated 14,547 people with that name. 6 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Porter is the 72nd popular surname with an estimated 378 people with that name. 7 Australia ranks Porter as 153rd with 19,328 people. 8 New Zealand ranks Porter as 237th with 2,507 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Porter as 156th with 33,623 people. 10

Migration of the Porter family to Ireland

Some of the Porter family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 120 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Porter migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Porter Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Porter Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Porter Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Porter migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Porter Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Porter Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Porter migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Porter Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Porter migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Porter Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Porter migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 22
Porter Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
Porter Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Porter (post 1700) +


The Porter Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Et fide et virtute
Motto Translation: Both fidelity and virtue.


Suggested Readings for the name Porter +
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