Porter
Meaning of Porter
Porter, pronounced POR-ter (/ˈpɔrtər/), originates as an Anglo-Norman occupational surname derived from Old French portier and ultimately the Latin portarius, denoting a gatekeeper or carrier—functions that conferred both responsibility for safeguarding thresholds and the physical conveyance of goods within the mercantile economy of medieval England. As the surname transitioned into given-name use in the United States during the nineteenth century, its semantic resonance with vigilance and dependable service endowed it with a quietly industrious aura, further enriched by cultural echoes of the robust dark ale popularized among London dockworkers in the eighteenth century. Long-term American birth records reveal a pattern of steady, mid-tier endurance: after early twentieth-century favor, Porter receded yet maintained continuous presence, then resurged in the late 1990s and 2000s, climbing to the upper 300s in rank before settling near the 500 mark in recent years, a trajectory that reflects contemporary appreciation for concise, occupational names that balance tradition with understated modernity.
Pronunciation
British English
- Pronunced as POR-tuh (/ˈpɔrtər/)
American English
- Pronunced as POR-tur (/ˈpɔrtər/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Porter
| Porter Weston Robinson is an American DJ and record producer who signed with Skrillex's OWSLA label at age 18 and gained early recognition on Billboard's 21 Under 21 list. |
| Orrin Porter Rockwell was a Wild West lawman in the Utah Territory, famously known as The Destroying Angel of Mormondom. |
| Porter Wayne Wagoner was an American country music singer famous for his flashy Nudie and Manuel suits and blond pompadour. |
| Frank Porter Stansberry is an American financial publisher who founded Stansberry Research and was fined for securities fraud. |
