Surname de Port - Meaning and Origin
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de Port: What does the surname de Port mean?
The last name de Port is a French surname derived from the word "port," which translates to mean "gateway" or "entrance." This could denote a location, for example a city entrance, but it also carries the more literal definition of a physical portal.
The de Port surname most likely originates from a place (or places) in France bearing this name. This is a very old family line, as French surnames began being adopted in the 11th century. Those with the de Port surname are likely descended from an ancestor whose family held a special position as gatekeepers or administrators of the royal entrance.
The de Port surname may have been used to denote the family's importance to the monarchy, whether it was simply acknowledging their regular service to a monarch or their appointment to an important or prestigious position. Depending on when the ancestors of the family first took the surname, it could be related to any of the many historical figures or regional lords who held this name.
The word "port" is closely associated with travel, and so the surname likely denotes a person or family with a rich heritage of making transitional journeys, both physical and metaphorical (for example a new position or level of responsibility). This name could also be an ode to the ancestors who were custodians of the gateway to the world, and thus served a greater cause to ensure safe and free passage.
Order DNA origin analysisde Port: Where does the name de Port come from?
The last name de Port is of French origin and was first found in Gascony, France. The history of the name suggests it was first borne by a family of Norman ancestry who were granted lands in Gascony by Duke William of Aquitaine. In modern times, this surname is found mainly in France and other areas of Europe. It may be encountered in parts of Spain, due to immigration from predominantly French-speaking regions, and also in England and Ireland, where it is sometimes used as an anglicized version of de Porte.
In France, the de Port surname can often be found concentrated in the south-western regions of Dordogne, Lot-et-Garonne and the Gironde department of Aquitaine. It is also common in the Haute-Garonne region of Occitane and in the neighbouring Pyrénées-Atlantiques department. Away from mainland Europe, the surname is also found in Canada, particularly in Quebec and the Maritime Provinces, and the United States, where it is primarily encountered in Louisiana, where it is found in large numbers, particularly in the Acadian region around Lafayette. The surname may also be found in the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and other parts of the Spanish-speaking Americas.
Variations of the surname de Port
The surname de Port is commonly found in France and in various parts of French Canada. It is thought to be a toponymic or locative surname derived from Port, France, which is the older form of Port-en-Bessin. In some cases, the surname may have also been taken from other places named Port in France.
Variants of the De Port surname include de Porte (French, derived from the French for ‘gate’), de Porto (Portugal, Iberian variation) and D’Port (Angloform).
Spellings of the surname vary, and could sometimes include Deport (Angloformation), Duport (German, from the older Dutch spelling of De Porte) and Deporte (French-Canadian).
Some of the most common surnames with the same origin as De Port are Poirier (pear-tree orchard), Provost (highest ranking public official) and McCourt (highest ranking public official). Poirier is derived from the Latin pirum (meaning 'pear-tree'), while Provost and McCourt are derived from the Latin praepositus (meaning 'chief' or 'master').
Famous people with the name de Port
- Charles de Port, a French cartoonist.
- Adolfo de Port, a Spanish actor and theatre director.
- André de Port, a French-born violinist, conductor, and pedagogue.
- Muss de Port, a Brazilian dancer, choreographer, and actor.
- Pierre de Port, a French industrialist and politician.
- Gustaf de Port, a Swedish sailor and Olympic participant.
- Henri de Port, a French rugby player.
- Alphonse de Port, a French composer and violinist.
- Léon de Port, a French painter and engraver.
- Raoul de Port, a French politician and lawyer.
- Maurice de Port, a French politician and lawyer.
- Jacques de Port, a French mathematician.
- André de Port, a French Olympic athlete.
- Raymond de Port, a French Olympic athlete.
- Fernand de Port, a French sculptor.
- Jacques de Portes, a French biologist.
- Alfred de Porten, a French philosopher and theologian.
- Anne de Portes, a French fashion designer.
- Christian de Portzamparc, a French architect, urbanist and town planner.
- Marguerite de Port, a French author, playwright, and social activist.