Butler History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Butler surname came to Ireland with the Anglo-Norman invasion of the 12th century, led by the forces of Strongbow. The surname came from a common occupational name for a wine steward or the chief servant of a medieval household. In royal households, the title denoted a high-ranking officer whose duties as a wine steward were merely nominal. Occupational surnames, such as Butler were much quite common to the Anglo-Norman culture, and virtually unknown in Gaelic Irish. The prefix le, meaning the, in French was often used by the early Strongbownians to link a person’s first and name and surname. Eventually these prefixes were dropped or became fused onto the beginning of the surname. The surname Butler is derived from Anglo-French “butuiller,” which comes from the Old French word “bouteillier.” These words are ultimately derived from the Latin words “buticularius,” and “buticula,” which mean “bottle.” The Gaelic form of the surname Butler is de Buitléir.

Early Origins of the Butler family

The surname Butler was first found in the ancient territory of Ormond (now parts of County Kilkenny, Wexford and north Tipperary). The first on record was Theobald FitzWalter, a distinguished Norman noble who accompanied Strongbow and was created the Chief Butler of Ireland in 1177. “He also possessed the barony of Amounderness, Lancashire, which he held in 1165 by service of one knight.” [1]

“Layton, [Lancashire] is mentioned in the Domesday Survey, and in former times was of some importance as containing a mansion belonging to the ancient family of Botiller or Butler, barons of Warrington.” [2] His descendents began to use the surname Butler around the year 1220. His direct descendant became Earl of Ormond in 1328 and their stronghold was Kilkenny castle. The family were rivals of the powerful Fitzgeralds and their kin, and the effective government of Ireland was held by one or the other of these two great Norman houses until the death of the Great Duke of Ormond in 1688. 

Many members of the family were ardent Jacobites, including the Abbé James Butler of Nantes, who was chaplain to “Bonnie Prince Charlie” during the last Jacobite uprising of 1745. Despite the strong Irish side of the family, the English side remained strong too. Laughton-En-Le-Morthen in the West Riding of Yorkshire was the site of one such family. “Laughton Hall, the ancient seat of the Butler family, is a spacious mansion, commanding extensive views.” [2]

Early History of the Butler family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Butler research.

Butler Spelling Variations

A single person’s name was often spelt simply as it sounded by medieval scribes and church officials. An investigation into the specific origins the name Butler has revealed that such a practice has resulted in many spelling variations over the years. A few of its variants include: Butler, Buttler, McRichard and others.

Early Notables of the Butler family (pre 1700)

Notable amongst the family up to this time was James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond (1359-1405), noble in the Peerage of Ireland, title was Governer of Ireland, acceded to the title in 1382 and built Gowran Castle three years later making it his usual residence, purchased Kilkenny Castle (1391) by deed from Sir Hugh le Despencer, Earl of Gloucester and Isabel his wife, daughter of Gilbert de Clare, built the castle of Dunfert (also called Danefort) and in 1386 founded a Friary of minorities at Ailesbury in Buckinghamshire, deputy to Sir Philip deCourtenay the then Lieutenant of Ireland (1384).

Butler World Ranking

In the United States, the name Butler is the 91^st most popular surname with an estimated 226,317 people with that name. [3] However, in Canada, the name Butler is ranked the 246^thmost popular surname with an estimated 16,459 people with that name. [4] And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Butler is the 12^nd popular surname with an estimated 963 people with that name. [5] Australia ranks Butler as 94^th with 26,467 people. [6] New Zealand ranks Butler as 147^th with 3,401 people. [7] The United Kingdom ranks Butler as 98^th with 48,623 people. [8]

 Butler migration to the United States +

Ireland went through one of the most devastating periods in its history with the arrival of the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. Many also lost their lives from typhus, fever and dysentery. And poverty was the general rule as tenant farmers were often evicted because they could not pay the high rents. Emigration to North America gave hundreds of families a chance at a life where work, freedom, and land ownership were all possible. For those who made the long journey, it meant hope and survival. The Irish emigration to British North America and the United States opened up the gates of industry, commerce, education and the arts. Early immigration and passenger lists have shown many Irish people bearing the name Butler: