Show ContentsPortway History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Portway family

The surname Portway was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Rogerus Peteuinus, Pictauensis was listed in Essex. Rogger Peiteuin was later listed in 1094 as holding lands at that time. Later in Suffolk, Peiteuin de Eya was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1186. The Latin form of the name continued with Peyteuinus le Esquier who was listed in the Assize Rolls for Bedfordshire in 1247.

Odo Petefin and Adam Petevin were both listed in the Feet of Fines for Kent in 1198; David le Poitevin was found in the Assize Rolls for Staffordshire in 1199; Rainer le Payteuin was recorded in the Assize Rolls for Yorkshire in 1219; Richard Patevin in Northumberland in 1242; William Peytefin in the Assize Rolls for Bedfordshire in 1247; and Osemund Petewin in the Hundredorum Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1279. 1 They were originally from Poitou in Normandy.

Early History of the Portway family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Portway research. Another 56 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1736 and 1744 are included under the topic Early Portway History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Portway Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Poitevin, Paytfen, Peytwin, Peteyvin, Peytivin, Portwine, Portwin, Potwin, Potwyn, Potwyne, Portwyn, Pettevin, Petvin, Peytvin, Portway, Portwey, Potyn and many more.

Early Notables of the Portway family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Portway Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Portway migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Portway Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • C. Portway, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wild Duck" in 1869
  • Mr. Portway (Portwey), British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "May Queen" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 8th November 1870 2


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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