Surname Portes - Meaning and Origin
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Portes: What does the surname Portes mean?
The surname "Portes" originates from the Latin word "porta", meaning "gate or door". This surname is primarily found in French and Spanish speaking countries. The name may have originally been used as a nickname or an occupational name for a doorkeeper or gatekeeper. Alternately, it could also be a topographic name for someone who lived near the town gates. It is quite a common last name in France and other countries that were influenced by French language or culture. Like many surnames, specific meanings can vary based on regional and cultural differences.
Order DNA origin analysisPortes: Where does the name Portes come from?
The last name Portes is most commonly found in Portugal, Brazil, and Spain, though it can also be found in other places. In Portugal, records of the name have been found as far back as the fifteenth century, with many people bearing the name living in the central region of the country. In Brazil, the name is mostly associated with Portuguese settlers who moved to the region during the colonial era. Meanwhile, the name has a long history in Spain, where it was commonly used by the nobility.
Today, Portes is still a common surname in Portugal, Brazil, and Spain, though it is often spelled differently in different countries. In Portugal, it is mostly spelled as “Porres”, while in Brazil it is often spelled “Portez”. In Spain, the most common spelling is “Portas”. The name can also be found in other countries, often with the spelling slightly altered. For example, in France it is usually spelled “Portes”, and in the United States it is often spelled “Portis”. Overall, the last name Portes can be found in many places around the world, though it is especially common in Portugal, Brazil, and Spain.
Variations of the surname Portes
Portes is a surname of many variants and spellings, all deriving from the same origin. Variants of the name include Port, Porte, LaPorte, DelPorte, Porthe, LaPorthe, DePorte, Portá, Portáez, and Portez. It can also be hyphenated, such as Port-Es or Port-Esq. In some cases, the 's' at the end is even dropped, making it Porte instead.
The surname Portes first originated in Provence, France and was derived from the Latin word porta, which means 'gate.' It was initially taken as a surname by a family who lived near a city gate. The Portes family eventually spread to derived countries such as Spain, Italy, Austria, and Portugal. As a result, there are many regional variations of the name in different countries, such as the Italian Pompe, the Portuguese Portes, and the German Port.
Variations in spelling often occur as the surname is passed from generation to generation, and sometimes the ending can be altered. For example, Porte may be spelt Porté or even Porto in some cases. While the ending 's' may be dropped, others even add an extra 's' onto the end to make it Portess.
The last name Portes has and continues to be spelt many different ways, even to this day. It is a testament to the evolution and diversity of what is known as the Portes family today.
Famous people with the name Portes
- Marcos Portes: Brazilian journalist and a writer.
- Francisco Portes Gil: Mexican lawyer, politician, and president briefly during the mid 1920s.
- Mike Portes: American entrepreneur and founder of leading industrial pump supply company.
- Pau Portes: Spanish composer, producer and pianist.
- Manu Portes: Spanish musician, record producer, and songwriter.
- Yolanda Portes: Chilean actress.
- Carlos Portes: Venezuelan actor and playwright.
- Lais Portes: Brazilian basketball player.
- Dmitri Portes: Russian artist, painter, sculptor, and film producer.
- Horowitz Portes: Brazilian guitarist, songwriter, and producer.