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Show ContentsPorter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The Porter family name was originally adopted from the original bearers' occupation. Porter was an occupational name for a gatekeeper or watchman deriving its origin from the Old French word "portier," meaning "doorman." In the royal castles, and in some monasteries, the office of Porter was usually hereditary, and lands and privileges were usually connected to the position. "He also kept the keys and had power to refuse admission to those whom he deemed unworthy." 1

Early Origins of the Porter family

The surname Porter was first found in Kyle, where Radulfus the porter witnessed the gift of the church of Cragyn (Craigie) to the monastery of Paisley in 1177. A few years later, Simon the porter witnessed a charter by William the Lion to Radulph de Graham c. 1180. John the Porter of Linlithgow and Walter the Porter of Lanarkshire rendered homage in 1296 to King Edward I. Robert Porter, dominus de Porterfield, in 1399 gave the monks of Paisley an annual rent of sixteen pennies from burgage tenements in Renfrew and also confirmed a former grant of his father, Stephen Porter. 1

Further to the south, there were scant early records. However, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 did include one listing: Robert le Porter. 2

The name was "not found in my list north of Lancashire and Lincolnshire, but scattered irregularly over the rest of England, being best represented in Somerset, Oxfordshire, Leicestershire, Rutlandshire, Essex, Norfolk, and Lancashire. This name was numerous in Cambridgeshire, Hunts, and Norfolk in the reign of Edward I (Hundred Rolls.) " 3 This last entry is a bit of an anomaly as the aforementioned Hundredorum Rolls (Hundred Rolls) had one entry, while the latter author claimed there were many.

Early History of the Porter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Porter research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1691 and 1890 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

  • William Porter, Sergeant at Arms to King Henry VII

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

Ireland 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 243 words (17 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States 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
  • Mr. Peter Porter, aged 20, who arrived in Virginia in 1621 aboard the ship "Tyger" 10
  • Mr. Peter Porter, aged 19, who arrived in Virginia in 1621 aboard the ship "Tyger" 10
  • Abraham Porter, who arrived in Virginia in 1624-1625 11
  • John Porter (c.1605-1674), English settler to the Massachusetts Bay Colony with the Winthrope Fleet in 1630 found in Roxbury in 1633, signer of the Portsmouth Compact 12
  • Mrs. Margaret Porter (nee Odding), wife of John Porter, English settler to the Massachusetts Bay Colony with the Winthrope Fleet in 1630 found in Roxbury in 1633. 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Porter Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hendrik Porter, aged 14, who landed in New York in 1710 11
  • Hannah Porter, who landed in Virginia in 1717 11
Porter Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Catherine Porter, aged 22, who landed in New Castle or Philadelphia in 1804 11
  • Elitia Porter, aged 44, who landed in New Castle or Philadelphia in 1804 11
  • Farr Porter, who arrived in America in 1805 11
  • Hugh Porter, aged 24, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1805 11
  • James Porter, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Porter migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Porter Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Francis Porter, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
  • Aaron Porter, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1778
  • Private. John Porter U.E. (b. 1759) born in England who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1782 he enlisted in 1776 serving in the Queen's American Rangers, married to Mary having 1 son, he died in 1783 upon falling from a raft on the Saint John River before his son was born 13
  • Private. Thomas Porter U.E. born in England who settled in Canada c. 1782 he enlisted in 1776 serving in the Queen's American Rangers, brother to John Porter 13
  • Mrs. Anna Porter U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Porter Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Elisha Porter, who arrived in Canada in 1828
  • William Porter, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Ugoni" from Belfast, Ireland
  • Michael Porter, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "William" in 1834
  • Matthew Porter, aged 40, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ambassador" in 1834
  • Rachel Porter, aged 35, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ambassador" in 1834
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia 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
  • Mr. Philip Porter, British convict who was convicted in Lancashire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • Miss Betty Porter, British Convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
  • Mr. Benjamin Porter, (b. 1782), aged 25, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Duke of Portland" in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1860 16
  • Miss Hannah Porter, English convict who was convicted in Kent, England for life, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
  • Mr. Richard Porter, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand 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
  • William Porter, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cashmere" in 1853 19
  • Maria Porter, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cashmere" in 1853 19
  • Alfred Porter, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cashmere" in 1853 19
  • Augustine Porter, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cashmere" in 1853 19
  • Mr. David E Porter, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Norman Morrison" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand, Via Wellington and Lyttleton in 1854 20
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies 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. 21
Porter Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Robert Porter, (b. 1614), aged 20, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Hopewell" arriving in Barbados on 17th February 1634 11
  • Mr. John Porter, (b. 1611), aged 24, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 22
  • Mr. Edward Porter, aged 21 who arrived in St. Kitts (St Christopher) aboard the ship "Amity" in 1635 11
  • Robert Porter, who settled in Barbados in 1676 with his two children
Porter Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century
  • Charles Ram Porter, who landed in Antigua (Antego) in 1752-1756 11

Contemporary Notables of the name Porter (post 1700) +

  • William Ellis "Billy" Porter II (b. 1969), American Tony award, Drama Desk Award, Primetime Emmy Award and Grammy Award winning, actor, singer, writer and director
  • Charles Ethan Porter (1847-1923), American still life painter
  • Robert Porter (1940-2021), American record producer, discographer, writer, and radio presenter, inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2009
  • Linda Porter (1933-2019), American actress. who made numerous appearances, most prominently in the series Superstore and Twin Peaks and the film Dude, Where's My Car?
  • Nolan Frederick Porter (1949-2021), American R&B singer and songwriter
  • J. W. "Jay" Porter (1933-2020), American Major League Baseball player for the St. Louis Browns (1952), Detroit Tigers (1955–1957), and Cleveland Indians (1958)
  • Bennie "Jean" Porter (1922-2018), American film and television actress, known for her roles in The Youngest Profession (1943), Bathing Beauty (1944), Abbott and Costello in Hollywood (1945) and more
  • Edward Melvin Porter (1930-2016), American lawyer and politician, Member of the Oklahoma Senate (1965-1987)
  • David Hugh Porter (1935-2016), American academic, 5th President of Skidmore College (1987-1999)
  • Charlie Porter (1951-2014), American mountaineer and climate change scientist
  • ... (Another 44 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Reginald J Porter (b. 1910), English Musician serving for the Royal Marine Band from Gosport, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 23
  • Mr. Frederick A Porter (b. 1903), English Marine serving for the Royal Marine from Gosport, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 23
  • Mr. Cyril L D Porter (b. 1922), English Ordinary Signalman serving for the Royal Navy from Hounslow, Middlesex, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 23
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Wilson Porter, British Telegraphist, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 24
  • Mr. Wilfred Porter, British Corporal, who sailed on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) prior to its sinking 24
  • Mr. Robert Porter, British Boy, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 24
HMS Royal Oak
  • Jack Stanley Porter (1910-1939), British Shipwright 4th Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 25
  • Henry William Porter (1917-1939), British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 25
  • Ebenezer Riddock Porter (d. 1939), British Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 25
North Sea Flood
  • John Porter, British worker aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953
Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie)
  • Walter Leonard Porter (1953-1988), American Musician from Brooklyn, New York, America, who flew aboard the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit, known as the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and died 26
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Walter Chamberlain Porter (d. 1912), aged 46, American First Class passenger from Worcester, Massachusetts who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 27
SS Caribou
  • Mr. Howard Hollis Porter, British passenger was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he survived the sinking
SS Newfoundland
  • Mr. James Porter (b. 1868), Newfoundlander from Elliston, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he survived
  • Mr. William Porter (b. 1890), Newfoundlander from Elliston, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he survived
  • Mr. James Porter (1881-1914), Newfoundlander from Long Pond, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he died during this time
SS Southern Cross
  • Mr. Robert James Porter (1893-1914), Newfoundlander from Long Pond, Manuels who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found
St. Francis Dam
  • Mr. Benjamin Franklin Porter, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
  • Mr. Charles O. Porter, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928

Suggested Readings for the name Porter +

  • Edward Culver, John Porter and Mary Estey: a Line of Descent from Two Puritans and a Salem Witch, with Allied Families by Marilyn V. Squires Mills.
  • A Family History, William Porter, Jr. of Rockbridge County, Virginia (1740-1804) by Mary E. Porter.
  1. 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)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  6. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  7. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  8. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  9. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  10. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  11. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  12. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  13. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duke-of-portland
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  19. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  20. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  21. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  22. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  23. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  24. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  25. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  26. Pan Am Flight 103's victims: A list of those killed 25 years ago | syracuse.com. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/12/pan_am_flight_103s_victims_a_list_of_those_killed_25_years_ago.html
  27. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
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