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 Portney family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Portney Family History

Portney Surname Meaning

Altered form of Jewish Portnoy or North German Portner. The surname Portner is also found in France (mainly Lorraine).

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 Portney family from?

You can see how Portney families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Portney family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Portney families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 5 Portney families living in London. This was about 38% of all the recorded Portney's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Portney families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Portney 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 Portney ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Portney. 67% of Portney women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Portney | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Bookseller stationer
    34%

What Portney family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Portney. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Portney census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Portney

Passenger Lists

There are 425 immigration records available for the last name Portney. 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 Portney immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 167 military records available for the last name Portney. For the veterans among your Portney ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Portney military records

You've only scratched the surface of Portney family history

Discover More

What is the average Portney lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Portney life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1969, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Portney in 1955 was 58, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Portney

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Portney 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 Portney family tree

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