Porter Surname: Origin and Coat of Arms
What does Porter mean, and where does it come from? Here is a brief introduction.
Origin of the Porter name
Porter has two occupational origins. Most bearers descend from a gatekeeper or doorkeeper, from Old French portier, the officer who kept the gate of a castle, abbey or walled town. Others come from porteour, a carrier of loads. The gatekeeper's post was often a hereditary office held with land. The name is widespread in England and Scotland and is common in Ulster.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Porter name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Porter name in England & Scotland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Northern Ireland and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Porter name FAQ
What does the Porter name mean?
Gatekeeper; carrier. Common variants include Portier, Portar, Portman.
Where does the Porter surname come from?
It originates in England & Scotland, and is also found in the United States, Northern Ireland and Australia.
Is there a Porter coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Porter crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Porter coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).