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Updated June 9, 2019

Family name origins & meanings

  • French : occupational name for the gatekeeper of a walled town or city, or the doorkeeper of a great house, Old French portier (Late Latin portarius). Compare English Porter. The distribution of the name in the U.S., however, suggests it is either not of French origin or was brought in from another country, possibly Switzerland, where it is also established.

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