Portwood Surname

The Origin of the Surname Portwood

The surname Portwood is of English origin and is derived from a locational name. It is believed to have originated from the village of Portwood in Cheshire, England. The village's name comes from the Old English words "port" meaning a harbor or landing place, and "wudu" meaning a wood or forest. Therefore, Portwood likely refers to a wooded area near a harbor or landing place.

Early History of the Portwood Surname

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Portwood dates back to the 13th century in Cheshire, England. The Portwood family was known to be landowners and farmers in the area, and they played a significant role in the local community.

Over the centuries, the Portwood surname spread to other parts of England and eventually to other English-speaking countries such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and Scotland. The surname has also been found in countries such as Brazil, Sweden, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Madagascar, and Taiwan, albeit in smaller numbers.

Notable Individuals with the Surname Portwood

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Portwood. One such individual is John Portwood, a renowned architect who designed several important buildings in England during the Victorian era. Another notable figure is Rebecca Portwood, a pioneering feminist writer who advocated for women's rights in the early 20th century.

In more recent times, the Portwood surname has gained recognition in fields such as business, politics, and entertainment. Several Portwood family members have established successful businesses, held political office, or achieved fame in the entertainment industry.

Popularity of the Portwood Surname

According to data, the surname Portwood is most commonly found in the United States, where it has an incidence of 2669. This indicates that there is a significant number of individuals with the Portwood surname residing in the US.

In England, the surname Portwood has an incidence of 183, making it relatively common in the country. It is also found in smaller numbers in Australia, Canada, Scotland, Wales, and other countries around the world.

Variants of the Portwood Surname

Like many surnames, the Portwood surname has several variants that have evolved over time. Some common variants include Portward, Portwode, Portwoud, and Portwoode. These variants may have been the result of regional dialects, spelling variations, or anglicization of the original surname.

Despite these variations, the core meaning and origin of the surname Portwood remain consistent across different spellings. It continues to be associated with a locational name derived from a harbor or landing place near a wooded area.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the surname Portwood has a rich history and is associated with a specific geographic location in England. Over the centuries, the Portwood family has contributed to various aspects of society, including architecture, literature, business, and politics.

Today, the Portwood surname continues to be prevalent in the United States and other English-speaking countries, with a significant number of individuals carrying the name. Despite the various spelling variants, the core meaning and origin of the surname remain consistent, reflecting its historical roots in a wooded area near a harbor or landing place.

The surname Portwood in the globe

Globalization has meant that surnames distribute far beyond their country of origin, so that it is achievable to locate African surnames in Europe or Indian surnames in Oceania. The same occurs in the case of Portwood, which as you're able to corroborate, it can be said that it's a surname which can be found in all the countries associated with globe. In the same way there are nations in which undoubtedly the thickness of people because of the surname Portwood is higher than in other countries.

The map of the Portwood surname

View Portwood surname map

The chance of examining on a globe map about which nations hold a greater number of Portwood on earth, helps us plenty. By putting ourselves regarding the map, for a tangible country, we could begin to see the tangible number of individuals with all the surname Portwood, to have in this way the complete information of all Portwood that one can presently find in that country. All this also assists us to know not merely in which the surname Portwood arises from, but also in what manner the individuals who are initially the main family members that bears the surname Portwood have moved and moved. Just as, you can see by which places they will have settled and grown up, which is why if Portwood is our surname, it seems interesting to which other nations associated with the globe it will be possible any particular one of our ancestors once moved to.

Nations with additional Portwood on the planet

  1. United States United States (2669)
  2. England England (183)
  3. Australia Australia (28)
  4. Canada Canada (28)
  5. Scotland Scotland (9)
  6. Brazil Brazil (6)
  7. Wales Wales (5)
  8. Sweden Sweden (4)
  9. Czech Republic Czech Republic (2)
  10. France France (1)
  11. Italy Italy (1)
  12. Madagascar Madagascar (1)
  13. Taiwan Taiwan (1)