Porter (name)

This article is about the given name and surname Porter. For other uses, see Porter.
Porter
Origin
Word/nameOld French
Meaning"gatekeeper"
Region of originEngland
Frequency Comparisons:[1]

Porter (\p(o)-rter\) is an English surname and also a given name. The name originates as an Old French occupational name, portier (gatekeeper), or porteour ("to carry"). Its earliest public record is 1086 at Winchester Castle.[2] With transferred use, Porter also became a unisex given name with varied popularity. According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Porter ranked #433 in 1907, declined to #1002 in 1944, and then rebounded to #476 in 2006.[3][4]

  1. ^ "Porter Surname Meaning and Distribution". forebears.co.uk.
  2. ^ "Surname: Porter". surnamedb.com. Retrieved 16 March 2008.
  3. ^ "Popularity of the male name Porter". ssa.gov. Archived from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2008.
  4. ^ "Porter — Name Meaning and Origin". thinkbabynames.com. Retrieved 16 March 2008.