Whether the oldest name, "platea Bremensium," first mentioned in 1349, derives from colonists from Bremen living in the lane or from a personal name remains unclear. In fact, "Bremer" was a common personal name in 14th-century Danzig.

From 1377, the designation "platea bedellina" -- Bailiff's Lane -- appears. The name refers to the old bailiff's office (Büttelei) located in the lane, whose former site is still recalled by the Büttelhof, a narrow cul-de-sac branching off from Portechaisengasse. The name persisted even after the bailiff's office was relocated to the present-day Büttelgasse in the 15th century.

The current name Portechaisengasse arose only in the 18th century. As late as 1725, the city council rejected a petition to introduce sedan chairs (Portechaisen) on account of the streets being too narrow. On a map from 1763, the lane still bore its old name; by 1778 it was already called "Büttel- oder Portechaisengasse." The name probably comes from the sedan chair makers based here.

History