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Buttler History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Buttler History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Ireland

The Buttler 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 Buttler 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 Buttler 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 Buttler is de Buitléir.

Early Origins of the Buttler family

The surname Buttler 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 Buttler family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Buttler 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 Buttler History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Buttler Spelling Variations

Church officials and medieval scribes spelled names as they sounded; therefore, single person, could have his name spelt many different ways during their lifetime. While investigating the origins of the name Buttler, many spelling variations were encountered, including: Butler, Buttler, McRichard and others.

Early Notables of the Buttler 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 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), appointed Lord...
Another 177 words (13 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Buttler Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Buttler Ranking

In the United States, the name Buttler is the 16,603^rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3

Buttler migration to the United States +

In the 1840s, Ireland experienced a mass exodus to North America due to the Great Potato Famine. These families wanted to escape from hunger and disease that was ravaging their homeland. With the promise of work, freedom and land overseas, the Irish looked upon British North America and the United States as a means of hope and prosperity. Those that survived the journey were able to achieve this through much hard work and perseverance. Early immigration and passenger lists revealed many bearing the name Buttler:

Buttler Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Buttler, aged 50, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Assurance" 4
William Buttler, who landed in Virginia in 1649 4
Henry Buttler, who arrived in Virginia in 1650 4
And Buttler, who landed in Virginia in 1654 4
George Buttler, who arrived in Maryland in 1657 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Buttler Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Joan Buttler, who landed in Virginia in 1715 4
Leonhard Buttler, who landed in America in 1782 4

Buttler Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Eizth Buttler, aged 58, who arrived in New York in 1862 4

Buttler migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Buttler Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

James Buttler, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
John Buttler, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Justice Buttler, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Margaret Buttler, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Mary Buttler, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Buttler 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:

Buttler Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Daniel Buttler, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ernestina" in 1865

Contemporary Notables of the name Buttler (post 1700) +

Joseph Charles "Jos" Buttler (b. 1990), English cricketer

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.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)