Butch History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Butch has a history dating as far back as the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It was a name for a person who had facial features similar to a buzzard or bustard which was a large bird, "now as rare as the eagle in England." 1 The name is derived from the "Old French bistarde, bustarde." 2

Early Origins of the Butch family

The surname Butch was first found in the Pipe Rolls where Walter Buistard was listed in 1159 and the singular name Bustard was found in 1162. Later, Robert Boistard was recorded in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1231. Robert Bustarde was recorded in Whitby, North Yorkshire in 1343. 2

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included entries for Robertus Bustardbank and Johannes Bustard. Both held landsa there at that time. 1

Early History of the Butch family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Butch research. Another 51 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1600 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Butch History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Butch Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Butch have been found, including Bustard, Busteed, Busterd and others.

Early Notables of the Butch family

More information is included under the topic Early Butch Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Butch family to Ireland

Some of the Butch family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 84 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Butch migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Butch, or a variant listed above:

Butch Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Butch, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1837 3
August Butch, aged 3, who arrived in New York, NY in 1848 3
Helena Butch, aged 23, who landed in New York, NY in 1848 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Butch (post 1700) +

Edward Butch O'Hare, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Navy, during World War II, credited with 7 aerial victories
Butch Miles (1944-2023), born Charles J. Thornton, Jr., an American jazz drummer who played with the Count Basie Orchestra, Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, and Tony Bennett
Butch Thompson (1943-2022), American jazz pianist and clarinetist born in Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, best known for his ragtime and stride performances
Butch Lindley (1948-1990), American NASCAR racer, Champion of the NASCAR National Sportsman series (1977-1978)
Butch Morgan, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Indiana, 2000, 2004 4
Butch Walts (b. 1955), American former professional tennis player
Butch Wedin (b. 1940), American ski jumper at the 1960 Winter Olympics
Butch Cassidy (1866-1908), born Robert Leroy Parker, notorious train and bank robber of the Wild West, leader of the Wild Bunch Gang

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html