Contents [hide]

Butler History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Australia West Indies Canada United States South Africa

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Butler History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Ireland

Etymology of Butler

What does the name Butler mean?

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. Another 131 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1250, 1359, 1382, 1384, 1386, 1388, 1389, 1390, 1391, 1392, 1397, 1401, 1405, 1467, 1496, 1531, 1539, 1546, 1601, 1614, 1627, 1650, 1652, 1653, 1667, 1704, 1740, 1745, 1762 and 1823 are included under the topic Early Butler History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

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

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...
Piers Butler, 8th Earl of Ormond and 1st Earl of Ossory (c. 1467-1539)
James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond and 2nd Earl of Ossory (1496-1546)
Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormonde and 3rd Earl of Ossory, Viscount Thurles (c. 1531-1614), was an Irish peer
Piers FitzThomas Butler of Duiske (died 1601), was the illegitimate son of Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond
Sir Edward Butler, 1st Viscount Galmoye (d. 1653)
Piers Butler of Duiske, Barrowmount, County Kilkenny (died 1650)
Edward Butler, 2nd Viscount Galmoye (c.1627-1667)
Pierce Butler (1652-1740), third Viscount Galway
Sir Thomas Butler, 3rd Baronet of Cloughgrenan, (died c. 1704), an Irish Baronet and politician

Butler World Ranking

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

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 9
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 10
Henry Butler, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia 11
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 12
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 13
... (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 14
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. 15

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 16

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 17
... (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 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 18
John Butler, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 18
Francis Butler, aged 18, who arrived in Virginia in 1624-1625 aboard the ship "Francis Bonaventure" 18
Richard Butler, who arrived in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1632 18
Robert Butler, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 18
... (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 18
Alice Butler, who landed in Virginia in 1702 18
Bridgett Butler, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 18
Edward Butler, who arrived in Virginia in 1706 18
Simon Butler, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1710 18
... (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 18
Daniel Butler, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1806 18
Eliza Butler, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 18
Andrew Butler, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 18
George Butler, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 18
... (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 19

Contemporary Notables of the name Butler (post 1700) +

Richard Henry Piers Butler (1936-2004), Captain in the Irish Guards, 17th Viscount Mountgarret
Sir William Francis Butler (1838-1910), Irish soldier and author
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
Barry Geoffrey Butler (1962-2024), English professional footballer
Sir Nevile Montagu Butler KCMG, CVO (1893-1973), British diplomat
Frederick Edward Robin Butler KG, GCB, CVO, PC (b. 1938), Baron Butler of Brockwell, retired British civil servant
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
Tony Butler (1935-2023), British sports broadcaster from Birmingham, awarded the Sony Radio Academy with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007
... (Another 42 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Butler family +

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 20

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 21

Halifax Explosion

Mrs. Ethel Butler (1893-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 22

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 23
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 23

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 24

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 25

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 26

HMS Repulse

Mr. Ivor Butler, British Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 27
Mr. Harry Butler, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 27
Mr. John Butler, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 27
Mr. Leonard Lincoln Butler, British Bandmaster Corporal, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 27

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 28
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 28
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 28

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 29

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 30
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 30
Mr. Thomas O'Brien Butler, Irish 2nd Class passenger from Ireland, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 30
Mr. Joseph Butler, English Fireman from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 31

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 32

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 33

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
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
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
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
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)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
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
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
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
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
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
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
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html