Porter (name)
Encyclopedia
Porter is a common English
surname
and also a given name
. The name originates as an Old French
occupational name, portier (gatekeeper; doorkeeper), or porteour ("to carry"). Its earliest public record is 1086 at Winchester Castle
. With transferred use, Porter also became a masculine
given name with varied popularity. According to the U.S. Social Security Administration
, Porter ranked #433 in 1907, declined to #1002 in 1944, then rebounded to #476 in 2006.
People with the name include:
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
and also a given name
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
. The name originates as an Old French
Old French
Old French was the Romance dialect continuum spoken in territories that span roughly the northern half of modern France and parts of modern Belgium and Switzerland from the 9th century to the 14th century...
occupational name, portier (gatekeeper; doorkeeper), or porteour ("to carry"). Its earliest public record is 1086 at Winchester Castle
Winchester Castle
Winchester Castle is a medieval building in Hampshire, England. It was founded in 1067. Only the Great Hall exists now; it houses a museum of the history of Winchester.-Great Hall:...
. With transferred use, Porter also became a masculine
Masculine
Masculine or masculinity, normally refer to qualities positively associated with men.Masculine may also refer to:*Masculine , a grammatical gender*Masculine cadence, a final chord occurring on a strong beat in music...
given name with varied popularity. According to the U.S. Social Security Administration
Social Security Administration
The United States Social Security Administration is an independent agency of the United States federal government that administers Social Security, a social insurance program consisting of retirement, disability, and survivors' benefits...
, Porter ranked #433 in 1907, declined to #1002 in 1944, then rebounded to #476 in 2006.
People with the name include:
A – F
- Adriana PorterAdriana PorterAdriana Porter was an alleged witch.Porter's notability rests on a poem, The Rede of the Wiccae, which was published by her granddaughter Lady Gwen Thompson in Green Egg magazine in 1975 and attributed to her...
(1857–1946), Canadian poet and alleged witch - Albert G. PorterAlbert G. PorterAlbert Gallatin Porter was an American politician who served as the 19th Governor of Indiana from 1881 to 1885 and as a United States Congressman from 1859 to 1863. Originally a Democrat, he joined the Republican Party in 1856 after being expelled by the pro-slavery faction of the Democratic Party...
(1824–1897), US congressman from Indiana - Alexander PorterAlexander PorterAlexander Porter was a United States Senator from Louisiana. Born in County Donegal, Ireland, he immigrated to the United States in 1801 with an uncle, who settled in Nashville, Tennessee...
(1785–1844), US senator from Louisiana - Alexander 'Jack Donald' Porter (1997-present), Future prime minister of Australia (2012-2016), Also a legend of a kid
- Andrew Porter (Civil War general)Andrew Porter (Civil War general)Andrew Porter was an American army officer who was a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was an important staff officer under George B. McClellan during the 1862 Peninsula Campaign, serving as the Provost Marshal of the Army of the Potomac.-Early life and...
, Union general in the American Civil War - Andrew Porter (Revolutionary War general), American general in the Revolutionary War
- Andy Porter (footballer)Andy Porter (footballer)Andrew Michael "Andy" Porter is an English former footballer, turned coach and manager, who is now a youth team coach at Stockport County...
(b.1968), English footballer - Anna PorterAnna PorterAnna Maria Porter, OC, O.Ont is a Canadian publisher and novelist.Born Anna Szigethy in Budapest, she emigrated to New Zealand in 1956 to escape the Soviet presence in Hungary. She received a Bachelor degree and Master of Arts degree from the University of Canterbury. She started at McClelland &...
, Canadian publisher and novelist - Augustus Seymour PorterAugustus Seymour PorterAugustus Seymour Porter was a U.S. statesman from the state of Michigan.He was born in Canandaigua, New York, the nephew of Peter Buell Porter and attended Canandaigua Academy. He graduated from Union College, in Schenectady, New York, in 1818, studied law and was admitted to the bar and commenced...
(1798–1872), US senator from Michigan - Charles Ethan PorterCharles Ethan PorterCharles Ethan Porter , was an African American still life painter.Porter was born in or about 1847 in Hartford, Connecticut. His family moved to the nearby village of Rockville by the early 1850s...
(ca. 1847–1923), African American still life painter - Charles H. PorterCharles H. PorterCharles Howell Porter was a U.S. Representative from Virginia.Born in Cairo, New York, Porter completed preparatory studies.He was graduated from the law university at Albany, New York, in 1853....
(1833–1897), US congressman from Virginia - Charles O. PorterCharles O. PorterCharles Orlando Porter was a politician from the U.S. state of Oregon.-Early life:Born in Klamath Falls, Oregon, to Frank Porter and Ruth Peterson, he graduated from high school in Eugene, Oregon and then went on to graduate from Harvard University with a B.S. in 1941...
(1919–2006), US congressman from Oregon - Chris Porter (disambiguation)
- Cole PorterCole PorterCole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
(1891–1964), American composer - Dana PorterDana PorterDana Harris Porter was a Canadian politician and jurist.After graduating from the University of Toronto in 1921, Porter went to England to continue his studies at Balliol College, Oxford from which he graduated with a Master's degree in 1923...
(1901–1967), Canadian politician and jurist - Darrell PorterDarrell PorterDarrell Ray Porter was a former American professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers. He was known for his excellent defensive skills and power hitting...
(1952–2002), American baseball player - David Porter (disambiguation)
- Dawn PorterDawn PorterDawn Porter is a British television presenter and writer. She was born in Scotland, but grew up in Guernsey.-Early life:Porter's mother died of breast cancer two days before her seventh birthday, and she was then raised by her aunt...
(born 1979), British television presenter and writer - Dorothy PorterDorothy PorterDorothy Featherstone Porter was an Australian poet.-Early life:Porter was born in Sydney. Her father was barrister Chester Porter and her mother, Jean, was a high school chemistry teacher. Porter attended the Queenwood School for Girls...
(1954–2008), Australian poet - Edward Guss PorterEdward Guss PorterEdward Guss Porter was a Canadian politician.Born in Consecon, Prince Edward County, Canada West, the son of Robert and Hannah Porter, Porter was educated at Albert College. A lawyer, he was an alderman for five years and Mayor of the City of Belleville, Ontario in 1891...
(1859–1929), Canadian politician - Edwin Stanton Porter (1870–1941), American filmmaker
- Eleanor H. PorterEleanor H. Porter-Biography:She was born as Eleanor Hodgman in Littleton, New Hampshire on December 19, 1868, the daughter of Francis Fletcher Hodgman and Llewella Woolson. She was trained as a singer, attending New England Conservatory for several years, but later turned to writing. In 1892, she married John Lyman...
(1868–1920), author of children's literature - Elias PorterElias PorterElias Hull Porter was an influential psychologist. While at the University of Chicago Porter was a peer of other notable American psychologists, including Carl Rogers, Thomas Gordon, Abraham Maslow and Will Schutz. His work at Ohio State University and later at the University of Chicago...
(1914–1987), American psychologist - Eliot PorterEliot PorterEliot Furness Porter was an American photographer best known for his color photographs of nature.-Early life:...
(1901–1990), American photographer - Endymion PorterEndymion PorterEndymion Porter was an English diplomat and royalist.-Life:He was descended from Sir William Porter, sergeant-at-arms to Henry VII, and son of Edmund Porter, of Aston-sub-Edge in Gloucestershire, by his cousin Angela, daughter of Giles Porter of Mickleton, in the same county.He was brought up in...
(1587–1649), English royalist - Eric PorterEric PorterEric Richard Porter was an English actor of stage, film and television.-Early life:Porter was born in Shepherd's Bush, London, to Richard John Porter and Phoebe Elizabeth Spall...
(1928–1995), English actor - Fairfield PorterFairfield PorterFairfield Porter was an American painter and art critic. He was the brother of photographer Eliot Porter and the brother-in-law of federal Reclamation Commissioner Michael W. Straus....
(1907–1975), American painter and art critic - Fitz John PorterFitz John PorterFitz John Porter was a career United States Army officer and a Union General during the American Civil War...
(1822–1901), Union general in the American Civil War
G – L
- Gail PorterGail PorterGail Porter is a Scottish television presenter.- Life and career :Porter attended Portobello High School. She studied a BTEC HND in Media Production at West Herts College...
(born 1971), British television presenter - Galen Porter (1807–1883), New York police captain
- George Bryan PorterGeorge Bryan PorterGeorge Bryan Porter , was a U.S. statesman in Pennsylvania and Michigan Territory.He was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, the brother of David Rittenhouse Porter, Pennsylvania Governor, 1839–1845, and James Madison Porter, Secretary of War, 1843–1844, and the uncle of Horace Porter, U.S....
(1791–1834), governor of Michigan Territory - George R. PorterGeorge R. PorterGeorge Richardson Porter was a British statistician. He was head of the statistical department of the Board of Trade.-Publications:* 1835: Das Ganze der Seiden-Manufactur: nach ihrem Ursprunge, Fortschritten und .....
, British statistician of the nineteenth century - Gilchrist PorterGilchrist PorterGilchrist Porter was a U.S. Representative from Missouri.Born in Windsor, near Fredericksburg, Virginia, Porter received a limited schooling.He studied law....
(1817–1894), US congressman from Missouri - Gladys PorterGladys PorterGladys Muriel Porter, was the first woman in the Maritimes to be elected as Mayor, and the first female Member of the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia....
(1894–1967), Canadian politician - Graeme Porter (born 1955), Australian cricketer
- Henry Porter (disambiguation)
- Horace PorterHorace PorterHorace Porter, was an American soldier and diplomat who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War....
(1837–1921), Union general in the American Civil War and president of the Pullman Palace Car Company - Hugh PorterHugh PorterHugh Porter MBE is one of Britain's greatest former professional cyclists, winning four world titles in the individual pursuit as well as a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 1966...
(born 1940), British cyclist and sports commentator - James Porter (disambiguation)
- Jerry Porter (American football) (born 1978)
- Jim PorterJim PorterJim Porter is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s. He played club football in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership with the Eastern Suburbs Roosters and the Parramatta Eels, as well as representative football for the Australian national team...
, Australian rugby league footballer - Joel PorterJoel PorterJoel William Porter is an Australian football player who plays as a striker for the Hyundai A-League team Gold Coast United...
(born 1978), Australian footballer - Joey PorterJoey PorterJoseph "Joey" Eugene Porter is an American football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Colorado State.A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Porter earned a...
(born 1977), American football player - Joe Porter(born 1996), Voice Actor, Joemation Creator
- John Porter (disambiguation)
- Jon PorterJon PorterJonathan Christopher "Jon" Porter , an American politician, was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, the first representative elected from the new 3rd Congressional District of Nevada....
(born 1955), American politician - Jorgie PorterJorgie PorterJorgina Alexandra "Jorgie" Porter, is an English actress, notable for her role as Theresa McQueen in the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks...
(born 1987), British actress - Kalan PorterKalan PorterRichard Kalan Porter is a singer-songwriter from Medicine Hat, Alberta, and the winner of the reality television series Canadian Idol in season 2. He started to sing at an early age and is classically trained, playing several instruments, most notably, the violin and viola...
(born 1985), Canadian singer - Katherine Anne PorterKatherine Anne PorterKatherine Anne Porter was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist, essayist, short story writer, novelist, and political activist. Her 1962 novel Ship of Fools was the best-selling novel in America that year, but her short stories received much more critical acclaim...
(1890–1980), American writer - Keith R. PorterKeith R. PorterKeith Roberts Porter was a Canadian cell biologist. He did pioneering biology research using electron microscopy of cells , such as work on the 9 + 2 microtubule structure in the axoneme of cilia. Porter also contributed to the development of other experimental methods for cell culture and nuclear...
(1912–1997), American cell biologist - Lewis PorterLewis Porter-Life:Dr Porter studied at the University of Rochester, followed by Master's degrees from Northeastern University and Tufts University and a doctorate in Musicology from Brandeis University....
, author, music professor at Rutgers
M – Z
- Michael PorterMichael PorterMichael Eugene Porter is the Bishop William Lawrence University Professor at Harvard Business School. He is a leading authority on company strategy and the competitiveness of nations and regions. Michael Porter’s work is recognized in many governments, corporations and academic circles globally...
(born 1947), American strategic management academic and co-founder of the Monitor Group - Montel Vontavious Porter (born 1973), American professional wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment
- Monty PorterMonty PorterMontague 'Monty' Porter was an Australian premiership winning and state representative rugby league footballer of the 1950s and 1960s. He was a second rower with the St. George Dragons during their eleven-year premiership winning run from 1956 to 1966, playing in six grand finals...
, Australian rugby league footballer - Nelson D. PorterNelson D. PorterNelson Davis Porter was mayor of Ottawa, Canada from 1915 to 1916.He was born in Montreal in 1863 and came to Ottawa with his family in 1870. He worked as an insurance and real estate agent...
(1863–1961), mayor of Ottawa, Canada - Noah PorterNoah PorterNoah Porter, Jr. was an American academic, philosopher, author, lexicographer and President of Yale College .-Biography:...
(1811–1892), American educator and philosopher - Nyree Dawn Porter, New Zealand-born actress
- Pat PorterPat PorterPatrick Ralph Porter is a former American distance runner. With an unremarkable personal best of 4:29 in the mile while running for Evergreen High School in Evergreen, Colorado, Porter was not heavily recruited to run in college...
(born 1959), American long-distance runner and Olympian - Peter Porter (poet)Peter Porter (poet)Peter Neville Frederick Porter, OAM was a British-based Australian poet.-Life:Porter was born in Brisbane, Australia, in 1929. His mother, Marion, died of a burst gall-bladder in 1938. He attended the Church of England Grammar School and left school at 18, and went to work as a trainee journalist...
(born 1929), Australian-born British poet - Peter A. PorterPeter A. PorterPeter Augustus Porter was a U.S. Representative from New York, and grandson of Peter Buell Porter. Porter was the son of Mary Cabell Breckenridge and Colonel Peter A...
(1853–1925), US congressman from New York - Peter Buell PorterPeter Buell PorterPeter Buell Porter was an American lawyer, soldier and politician who served as United States Secretary of War from 1828 to 1829.-Life:...
(1773–1844), US Secretary of War and congressman from New York - Quincy PorterQuincy PorterQuincy Porter was an American composer and teacher of classical music.Born in New Haven, Connecticut, he went to Yale University where his teachers included Horatio Parker and David Stanley Smith. Porter received two awards while studying music at Yale: the Osborne Prize for Fugue, and the...
(1897–1966), American composer - Quinton PorterQuinton PorterQuinton George Porter is a Gridiron football quarterback for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. He was on the practice squad for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
(born 1982), American football player - Robert Porter (disambiguation)
- Rodney Robert PorterRodney Robert PorterRodney Robert Porter, FRS was an English biochemist and Nobel laureate.Born in Newton-le-Willows, St Helens, Lancashire, England, Rodney Robert Porter received his Bachelors of Sciences degree from the University of Liverpool in 1939 for Biochemistry. He moved to the University of Cambridge where...
(1917–1985), British biochemist - Roy PorterRoy PorterRoy Sydney Porter was a British historian noted for his prolific work on the history of medicine.-Life:...
(1946–2002), historian of medicine - Rufus PorterRufus PorterFor the American football player see Rufus Porter .For the American poet see Rufus L. Porter.Rufus M. Porter was an American painter, inventor, and founder of Scientific American magazine....
(1792–1884), American painter, inventor, and founder of Scientific American magazine - Russell W. PorterRussell W. PorterRussell Williams Porter was an American artist, engineer, amateur astronomer and explorer. He was a pioneer in the field of “cutaway illustration" and is sometimes referred to as the "founder" or one of the "founders" of amateur telescope making."-Biography:Russell W...
(1871–1949), American co-founder of the Amateur Telescope Makers movement - Stephen Geyer PorterStephen Geyer PorterSteven Geyer Porter was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.-Biography:...
(1869–1930), US congressman from Pennsylvania - Susie PorterSusie PorterSusie Porter is a multiple award winning Australian television and film actress.-Television:Susie Porter began her acting career in one episode of House Gang, a short lived television program. She then had small roles in other Australian television programs in the late 1990s, including Big Sky,...
, Australian television and film actress - Sylvia Porter (1913–1991), American financial columnist
- Terry PorterTerry PorterTerry Porter is an American professional basketball coach and former player in the National Basketball Association . A native of Wisconsin, he played college basketball at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point before being drafted 24th by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1985 NBA Draft...
(born 1963), American professional basketball player and coach - Timothy H. PorterTimothy H. PorterTimothy Hopkins Porter was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
(died 1840), US congressman from New York - Tony PorterTony PorterAnthony Porter is the suffragan Bishop of Sherwood in the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.-Early life and education:...
(born 1952), British Bishop of Sherwood - Tracy PorterTracy PorterTracy O'Neil Porter is an American football cornerback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Saints in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Indiana....
(born 1986), American professional football player - Whitworth PorterWhitworth PorterWhitworth Porter was an English Major General.Porter published the first two volumes of History of the Corps of Royal Engineers in 1889, a work continued through 11 volumes.-References:...
(1827–1892), an English Major General. - William A. PorterWilliam A. PorterIn 1982, William A. Porter and Bernie Newcomb founded the first ever electronic stock brokerage, E*TRADE — heralding both the demise of the ticker tape and the advent of the electronic trading age....
, American founder of E*Trade financial services company - William Sydney Porter (1862–1910), the writer O. HenryO. HenryO. Henry was the pen name of the American writer William Sydney Porter . O. Henry's short stories are well known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization and clever twist endings.-Early life:...
- Willy PorterWilly PorterWilly Porter is a contemporary American folk musician and singer-songwriter from Mequon, Wisconsin. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and was a member of the Epsilon Chi Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta, a men's fraternity.-Career:...
, contemporary American folk musician
Given name
- Porter BlanchardPorter BlanchardPorter Blanchard was an American silversmith living and working in Pacoima, California in the United States. He is considered to be part of the Arts and Crafts Movement. His daughter, Alice, married Lewis Wise who conducted business as Porter Blanchard Silversmiths...
(1886–1973), American silversmith - Porter CottrellPorter CottrellPorter Cottrell is an IFBB American professional bodybuilder.-Contest History:*1988 Junior Nationals - NPC, Overall Winner*1988 Junior Nationals - NPC, Light-HeavyWeight, 1st*1989 Nationals - NPC, Light-HeavyWeight, 3rd...
(born 1962), American bodybuilder - Porter H. DalePorter H. DalePorter Hinman Dale was a member of both the United States House of Representatives and later the United States Senate from Vermont.-Early life and career:Dale was born in Island Pond, Vermont in 1867....
(1867–1933), US congressman and senator from Vermont - Porter Goss (born 1938), CIA director and US congressman from Florida
- Porter HallPorter HallPorter Hall was an American character actor known for appearing in a number of films in the 1930s and 1940s...
(1888–1953), American film and stage actor - Porter KingPorter KingPorter King was born in Marion, Alabama, attended Howard College and graduated in 1878 then studied law at University of Virginia in Charlottesville...
(1857–1901), American politician from Alabama and Georgia - Porter J. McCumberPorter J. McCumberPorter James McCumber was a United States Senator from North Dakota. Born in Crete, Illinois, he moved with his parents to Rochester, Minnesota the same year. He attended the common schools and taught school for a few years, and graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan at...
(1858–1933), US senator from North Dakota - Porter RobinsonPorter RobinsonPorter Robinson is an American electronic dance music producer and DJ. He primarily produces in the electro house genre, but has also experimented with dubstep and moombahton on his Spitfire EP.-Biography:...
, (born 1992), American Producer and DJ - Porter RockwellPorter RockwellOrrin Porter Rockwell was a figure of the Wild West period of American History and a law man in the Utah Territory...
, American gunfighter, deputy United States Marshal and Mormon leadership bodyguard - Porter WagonerPorter WagonerPorter Wayne Wagoner was a popular American country music singer known for his flashy Nudie and Manuel suits and blond pompadour. He introduced the young Dolly Parton near the beginning of her career on his long-running television show, and they were a well-known duet throughout the late 1960s and...
, American country music singer