This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Porten family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Porten Family History

Porten Surname Meaning

English: possibly a variant of Porton, a habitational name from Porton in Wiltshire or Poorton in Dorset; both placenames are formed with an obscure first element, perhaps the name of a river, + Old English tūn ‘settlement’.

North German: variant of Port (inflected form after an original preposition).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Porten family from?

You can see how Porten families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Porten family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Porten families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 48 Porten families living in Wiltshire. This was about 26% of all the recorded Porten's in United Kingdom. Wiltshire had the highest population of Porten families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Porten surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Porten ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Farm Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Porten. 100% of Porten men worked as a Farm Labourer and 72% of Porten women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Porten | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Farm Labourer
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    29%

What Porten family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Porten. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Porten census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Porten

Passenger Lists

There are 804 immigration records available for the last name Porten. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Porten immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 742 military records available for the last name Porten. For the veterans among your Porten ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Porten military records

You've only scratched the surface of Porten family history

Discover More

What is the average Porten lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2003, in the United States, Porten life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1982, and highest in 1974. The average life expectancy for Porten in 1963 was 74, and 84 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Porten

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Porten ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Porten family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial