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Show ContentsButler History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Butler Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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Early Origins of the Butler family

The surname Butler was first found in Prussia, where the name emerged in medieval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation.

Early History of the Butler family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Butler research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1681, 1710, 1782 and 1874 are included under the topic Early Butler History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Butler Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Butler, Buttlar, Büttner, Butlers, Butlern, Butlen, Butlinck, Buttler and many more.

Early Notables of the Butler family

Notable figures of the time with the name Butler were

  • the Butler family of Prussia

Butler World Ranking

In the United States, the name Butler is the 91st most popular surname with an estimated 226,317 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Butler is ranked the 246th most popular surname with an estimated 16,459 people with that name. 2 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Butler is the 12nd popular surname with an estimated 963 people with that name. 3 Australia ranks Butler as 94th with 26,467 people. 4 New Zealand ranks Butler as 147th with 3,401 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Butler as 98th with 48,623 people. 6

Butler migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Butler Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Samuel Butler, who landed in America in 1620 7
  • John Butler, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 7
  • Francis Butler, aged 18, who arrived in Virginia in 1624-1625 aboard the ship "Francis Bonaventure" 7
  • Richard Butler, who arrived in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1632 7
  • Robert Butler, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Butler Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Richard Butler, who landed in Virginia in 1701 7
  • Alice Butler, who landed in Virginia in 1702 7
  • Bridgett Butler, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 7
  • Edward Butler, who arrived in Virginia in 1706 7
  • Simon Butler, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1710 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Butler Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Anthony Butler, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1803 7
  • Daniel Butler, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1806 7
  • Eliza Butler, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 7
  • Andrew Butler, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 7
  • George Butler, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Butler Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. John Butler, (b. 1870), aged 33, Cornish miner, from Redruth, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Aurania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 12th August 1903 en route to Silverton, Colorado, USA 8

Butler migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Butler Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Edward Butler, who arrived in Halifax Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
  • Richard Butler, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1750
  • John Butler, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Edward Butler, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1752
  • Mr. Elias Butler U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1783 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Butler Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Alice Elizabeth Butler, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1810
  • Catherine Butler, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1818
  • Elizabeth Alice Butler, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1818
  • Michael Butler, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1824
  • James Butler, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1825
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Butler migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Butler Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Jeremiah Butler, British Convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
  • Mr. Robert Butler, English convict who was convicted in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
  • Henry Butler, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Miss Anne Butler, (b. 1797), aged 21, Irish nurse maid who was convicted in Tipperary, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 26th July 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • Mr. John Butler, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" on 23rd April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Butler 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:

Butler Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • J G Butler, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1823
  • Thomas Butler, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1836
  • Mr. B. Butler, Cornish settler travelling from Launceston, UK aboard the ship "Brazil Packet" arriving in New Zealand in 1836 15
  • John Gare Butler, aged 57, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bolton" in 1840
  • Hannah Butler, aged 62, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bolton" in 1840
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Butler migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 16
Butler Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. John Butler, (b. 1614), aged 21, British settler travelling from Gravesend, England aboard the ship "Falcon" arriving in Barbados in 1636 17

Contemporary Notables of the name Butler (post 1700) +

  • Jerry Butler Jr. (1939-2025), American soul singer-songwriter, producer, musician, and politician, the original lead singer of the R&B vocal group The Impressions, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991, after leaving the group in 1960, achieved over 55 Billboard Pop and R&B Chart hits as a solo artist including "He Will Break Your Heart", "Let It Be Me", and "Only the Strong Survive", inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2015
  • Jimmy Butler III (b. 1989), American professional NBA basketball former player for the Miami Heat, nicknamed "Jimmy Buckets", a six-time NBA All-Star, a five-time All-NBA Team member, and a five-time NBA All-Defensive Team member
  • Alonzo Butler (1979-2024), American heavyweight boxer
  • Robert Stanton Butler (1927-2023), American film and Emmy Award-winning television director, best known for his work in television including Star Trek, Hogan's Heroes, Batman and Hill Street Blues
  • Wilmer Cable "Bill" Butler (1921-2023), American Academy Award nominated cinematographer, known for his work on The Conversation (1974), Jaws (1975), three Rocky sequels and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
  • Austin Robert Butler (b. 1991), American Golden Globe Award, BAFTA winning actor, and Academy Award nominee known for Life Unexpected (2010–2011), Switched at Birth (2011–2012) and Elvis (2022)
  • Michael Butler (1926-2022), American theatrical producer best known for bringing the rock musical Hair from the Public Theater to Broadway in 1968
  • LeRoy Butler III (b. 1968), American former professional football player who was a strong safety for twelve seasons with the Green Bay Packers (1990–2001), inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022
  • George Tyssen Butler (1943-2021), English born, American filmmaker and photographer, known for Pumping Iron, which introduced Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Endurance film trilogy, retelling Sir Ernest Shackleton’s saga of Antarctic survival, and Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry
  • Robert L. Butler (1927-2019), American politician, Mayor of Marion (1963-2018), the second longest-serving mayor in the United States
  • ... (Another 42 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Air New Zealand Flight 901
  • Mrs. Rae Jeanne Butler (1936-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Waihi Beach, North Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 18
Empress of Ireland
  • Miss Rose Butler (d. 1914), Canadian Second Class Passenger from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 19
Halifax Explosion
  • Mrs. Ethel  Butler (1893-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 20
HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. Kenneth Norman Hilton Butler (1920-1941), Australian Supply Assistant from South Perth, Western Australia, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 21
  • Mr. Stanley Wilfred Butler (1917-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Devonport, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 21
HMS Cornwall
  • Charles James Albert Butler (d. 1942), British Stoker 1st Class aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 22
HMS Dorsetshire
  • William Henry Blow Butler, British Warrant Officer Gunner aboard the HMS Dorsetshire (1945) when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he survived the sinking 23
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Horace A Butler (b. 1894), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Northampton, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 24
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Ivor Butler, British Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 25
  • Mr. Harry Butler, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 25
  • Mr. John Butler, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 25
  • Mr. Leonard Lincoln Butler, British Bandmaster Corporal, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 25
HMS Royal Oak
  • Albert Edward Butler (1904-1939), British Stoker 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 26
  • Albert Edward Butler (1916-1939), British Marine with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 26
  • Albert Alfred Butler (d. 1939), British Stoker 2nd Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 26
Mount Mulligan Mine
  • Donald Butler, Australian coal miner who was killed in the Mount Mulligan Mine explosion in 1921
Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie)
  • Steven Lee Butler (1953-1988), American Teacher from Denver, Colorado, America, who flew aboard the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit, known as the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and died 27
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. William M. Butler, American 3rd Class passenger from New York, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 28
  • Mrs. Margaret Butler, English 2nd Class passenger from Manchester, England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered 28
  • Mr. Thomas O'Brien Butler, Irish 2nd Class passenger from Ireland, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 28
  • Mr. Joseph Butler, English Fireman from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 29
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Reginald Fenton Butler (d. 1912), aged 25, English Second Class passenger from Southsea, Hampshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 30
SS Caribou
  • Mr. William Robert Butler (b. 1918), Newfoundland passenger from Trinity East, Newfoundland and Labrador was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he died in the sinking he was travelling with his uncle Uriah Bailey
SS Newfoundland
  • Mr. John Butler (d. 1914), Newfoundlander from Pouch Cove, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he died during this time
  • Mr. Valentine Butler (1888-1914), Newfoundlander from Pouch Cove, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he died during this time
SS Southern Cross
  • Mr. William John Butler (1891-1914), Newfoundlander from Foxtrap who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found
  • Mr. William C. Butler (1886-1914), Newfoundlander from Foxtrap who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found
  • Mr. William Butler (1888-1914), Newfoundlander from Kelligrews who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found
  • Mr. Uriah Butler (1876-1914), Newfoundlander from Foxtrap who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found
  • Mr. Samuel Butler (1876-1914), Newfoundlander from Kelligrews who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found
  • ... (Another 4 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
USS Arizona
  • Mr. John Dabney Butler, American Fireman First Class from Texas, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 31

Suggested Readings for the name Butler +

  • The Ancestry of Blanche Butler Ames and Adelbert Ames by Pauline Ames Plimpton.
  • Della Elizabeth Butler Hudson Be.
  • : Her Family and Ancestors by Martha Ann Butler.
  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  3. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  4. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  5. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  6. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  7. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  8. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  9. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  12. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Almorah voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1817 with 180 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/almorah/1817
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
  15. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  17. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  18. Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
  19. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  20. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  21. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  22. Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
  23. Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
  24. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  25. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  26. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  27. Pan Am Flight 103's victims: A list of those killed 25 years ago | syracuse.com. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/12/pan_am_flight_103s_victims_a_list_of_those_killed_25_years_ago.html
  28. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  29. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  30. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  31. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html

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