NameCensus.

UK surname

Porterfield

An English occupational surname referring to a gatekeeper or doorkeeper of a walled town or city.

In the 1881 census there were 149 people recorded with the Porterfield surname, ranking it #15,551 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 268, ranked #16,003, down from #15,551 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rutherglen, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gorbals and Hutchesontown, Meadows and Southside and Oakley Comrie and Blairhall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Porterfield is 275 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 79.9%.

1881 census count

149

Ranked #15,551

Modern count

268

2016, ranked #16,003

Peak year

2010

275 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Porterfield had 149 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,551 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 268 in 2016, ranked #16,003.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 202 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Porterfield surname distribution map

The map shows where the Porterfield surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Porterfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Porterfield over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 102 #16,933
1861 historical 117 #18,635
1881 historical 149 #15,551
1891 historical 178 #16,264
1901 historical 202 #15,010
1911 historical 96 #23,193
1997 modern 251 #15,236
1998 modern 272 #14,846
1999 modern 264 #15,223
2000 modern 265 #15,143
2001 modern 253 #15,403
2002 modern 272 #14,930
2003 modern 270 #14,825
2004 modern 268 #14,995
2005 modern 270 #14,822
2006 modern 268 #15,000
2007 modern 256 #15,647
2008 modern 253 #15,941
2009 modern 265 #15,756
2010 modern 275 #15,673
2011 modern 257 #16,335
2012 modern 261 #16,041
2013 modern 266 #16,098
2014 modern 262 #16,380
2015 modern 267 #16,050
2016 modern 268 #16,003

Geography

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Where Porterfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rutherglen, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gorbals and Hutchesontown, Meadows and Southside, Oakley Comrie and Blairhall, Jedburgh and Toryglen and Oatlands. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Rutherglen Lanark
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gorbals and Hutchesontown Glasgow City
2 Meadows and Southside City of Edinburgh
3 Oakley Comrie and Blairhall Fife
4 Jedburgh Scottish Borders
5 Toryglen and Oatlands Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Porterfield

These lists show first names that appear often with the Porterfield surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Porterfield

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Porterfield, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Porterfield surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Porterfield household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Porterfield is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Porterfield is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Porterfield falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Porterfield is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Porterfield, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Porterfield

The surname Porterfield originated in the Scottish Lowlands during the Middle Ages. It is a habitational name derived from a place called Porterfield located near the town of Renfrew in Renfrewshire. The name is believed to have been derived from the Old English words "port" meaning a market town, and "feld" meaning a field or pasture.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Porterfield can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage rolls recording the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "William de Porterfelde" from Renfrewshire.

In the 16th century, the Porterfield family held lands in the parish of Kilbarchan in Renfrewshire. A notable member of the family was John Porterfield (c. 1530-1590), a Scottish clergyman who served as the minister of Kilbarchan Parish Church.

Another prominent individual with the surname Porterfield was Sir William Porterfield (1609-1670), a Scottish soldier and landowner. He fought for the Royalist cause during the English Civil War and was knighted by King Charles II in 1665.

During the 17th century, the Porterfield family also had connections to Ireland. Robert Porterfield (1635-1696) was a Scottish merchant who settled in Dublin and became a wealthy landowner. His son, Boleyn Porterfield (1670-1736), was a member of the Irish House of Commons and held the office of Lord Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer.

In the 18th century, John Porterfield (1700-1784) was a notable Presbyterian minister who served as the moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1768. He was known for his opposition to the proposed union between the Church of Scotland and the Episcopal Church.

The Porterfield name has also been found in various forms throughout history, including Portirfield, Portirvield, and Porterfeild. While the name has Scottish origins, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration and migration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Porterfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Porterfield surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 24 Porterfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.11x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 24 5.11x
Dunbartonshire 20 51.20x
Aberdeenshire 16 11.89x
Midlothian 15 7.70x
Durham 11 2.54x
Middlesex 10 0.69x
Lancashire 9 0.52x
Renfrewshire 9 7.99x
Ayrshire 8 7.36x
Kent 6 1.21x
Argyllshire 5 12.36x
Banffshire 4 13.27x
Gloucestershire 4 1.40x
Buteshire 3 34.05x
Yorkshire 3 0.21x
Perthshire 1 1.53x
Surrey 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dumbarton in Dunbartonshire leads with 11 Porterfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 202.21x.

Place Total Index
Dumbarton 11 202.21x
Barony 10 8.41x
Cardross 9 191.90x
Kensington London 9 11.14x
Beith 8 246.15x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 25.55x
New Monkland 7 50.40x
Penicuik 7 264.15x
Rutherglen 7 101.45x
Turriff 7 322.58x
Darlington 6 35.95x
Plumstead 6 36.30x
Dunoon 5 602.41x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 4 15.89x
Cheltenham 4 18.19x
Lasswade 4 89.89x
South Shields 4 103.90x
Abbey 3 17.45x
Cumbrae 3 322.58x
Marnoch 3 185.19x
Neilston 3 53.10x
Aberdeen Old Machar 2 7.12x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 2.55x
Scarborough 2 15.28x
Christ Church Newgate 1 147.06x
Edinburgh Canongate 1 20.16x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 26.11x
Forgue 1 82.64x
Grange 1 113.64x
Holy Trinity 1 2.89x
Kennethmont 1 200.00x
Kingston On Thames 1 5.88x
Mearns 1 50.76x
Monkwearmouth Shore 1 11.85x
Monquhitter 1 71.94x
Paisley High Church 1 11.15x
Perth East Church 1 16.26x
Royton 1 18.94x
West Derby 1 1.98x
West Greenock 1 4.95x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Porterfield surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 4
Elizabeth 3
Ann 1
Annie 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Helen 1
Jane 1
Margaret 1
Margret 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Porterfield surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
James 7
John 4
William 4
David 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Bolden 1
Charles 1
Henry 1
Hiram 1
Hugh 1
Munro 1
Norman 1
Robert 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Porterfield households.

FAQ

Porterfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Porterfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 149 people were recorded with the Porterfield surname. That placed it at #15,551 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Porterfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 268 in 2016. That gives Porterfield a modern rank of #16,003.

What does the Porterfield surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a gatekeeper or doorkeeper of a walled town or city.

What does the Porterfield map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Porterfield bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.