| The earliest possible reference, according to Lord Lyon King of Arms in Edinburgh, is to a Guillaume Porteuse (later William Porteous), who arrived from Normandy c 1400 under the patronship of the wealthy Fraise family (later to become the Frasers). They had already settled in parts of lowland Scotland, having been granted lands by the King.
The early meaning of the name Porteuse (from the French) was indeed possibly of 'courier' or 'messenger'. But in Scotland, they turned their hand to other trades. In the days when the glens and hamlets of Tweeddale and, later, Annandale were much more densely populated than today, they seem to have pursued various occupations, from millers and blacksmiths to ministers of religion.
The home of early members of the Porteous family for many hundreds of years was Hawkshaw in Peeblesshire. Links to Porteous articles on line: Porteous Riots Porteous Associates Porteous Research Project: |
 |
 |