Porteous

Two possible origins:

• A topographic surname for someone who lived in the lodge at the entrance to a manor house, from Middle English port (“gateway, entrance”) + hous (“house”).
• From Anglo-Norman porteose (“porteous”), a metonymic occupational surname for a scribe employed in writing portable prayerbooks.

Porteous (plural Porteouses)

1. A surname.

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Porteous is the 25255^th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 981 individuals. Porteous is most common among White (80.63%) individuals.

• Hanks, Patrick, editor (2003), “Porteous”, in Dictionary of American Family Names, volume 3, New York City: Oxford University Press, →ISBN.