Show ContentsBoteler History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Boteler is rooted in the Old French translation a "bouteiller," a name for someone who was in charge of the wine cellar. This person was often the chief servant of the Medieval household. However, there is also another possible derivation of this name, from the Middle English word "boteler," which denoted a maker of (leather) bottles. [1]

Early Origins of the Boteler family

The surname Boteler was first found in Normandy where they held a family seat as Seigneurs of Wemme. Their ancient title was Butler (Bouteillier) to the Counts of Meulent (Robert de Beaumont about 1066,) the actual family name being Pincerna. This title was then adopted as a surname.

"This name, as Pincerna, is three times entered in Domesday. [2] "Hugo Pincerna" held a barony in Bedfordshire; and two others, Richard and Robert, were under-tenants, the first in Shropshire and Cheshire, the second in Shropshire only. The two first founded baronial families, and in giving some account of each of these, I will commence with Hugo, the feudal Butler of the Counts of Mellent. This dignity had been, and continued to be, hereditary in his family, as was then customary. He accompanied the Count to England in 1066, and received his share of the spoils awarded to the new Earl of Leicester. His son, Ralph Pincerna, had the custody of his suzerain's estates in 1130 (Rot. Pip.), and was a benefactor of Kenilworth Priory." [3]

Arnold le Boteler was the first recorded 'lord' of the Welsh village of Pembrey where he established manor house and estate which is now known as Court Farm during the reign of William the Conqueror. Later, William le Boteler was rector of the church of St. Elphin, Warrington, Lancashire c. 1289. [4]

Some of the family later held estates in Great and Little Badminton in Gloucestershire. "[Great Badminton], together with Little Badminton, is nearly all included within the boundary wall of Badminton Park, the seat of the Duke of Beaufort, whose ancestor, the first duke, built a princely mansion in the reign of Charles II., on the site of an ancient house belonging to the Boteler family." [5]

"[Little Linford] in Buckinghamshire] was purchased by the Botelers, and passed with Great Linford till about 1658, when it was purchased by the Thompsons." [5]

In Scotland, most early documents record the name in the Latin form "pincerna." "Hugo, pincerna, witnessed charters by Richard, bishop of St. Andrews, a. 1173, and c. 1200-1207.Petrus, pincerna, appears as a witness. Warinus, pincerna the bishop of Glasgow, witnessed confirmation of the sale of land of Scrogges to the church of Glasgow, 1208-1213. Malcolm, pincerna, witnessed a confirmation charter by Alexander 11 of his father's grant of the right of a fair, etc., to the bishop of Glasgow, c. 1225." [6]

It was not until to the late 13th century when the name was recorded in the English form: "Sir John le Botiler swore fealty in 1291, and in 1296 Johan le Botillier of Cramond, Johan le Botiler of Perthshire, and Sir John called le Botillier all rendered homage." [6]

Early History of the Boteler family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boteler research. Another 133 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1086, 1100, 1130, 1260, 1295, 1308, 1328, 1334, 1351, 1361, 1369, 1394, 1411, 1443, 1473, 1566, 1583, 1625, 1626, 1637, 1644, 1657, 1659, 1667, 1689, 1695, 1719 and 1772 are included under the topic Early Boteler History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boteler Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Boteler, Botelers, Botler and others.

Early Notables of the Boteler family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • William le Boteler, who was created Baron Boteler of Werington by writ on June 23, 1295, the barony became extinct on his death (c.1328). A second barony was created by writ on March 19, 1308 for Will...
  • Ralph Boteler, 1st Baron Sudeley (1394-1473), was Captain of Calais and Treasurer of England from 7 July 1443. John Boteler, 1st Baron Boteler of Brantfield, (c. 1566 - 27 May 1637) was an English pol...

Ireland Migration of the Boteler family to Ireland

Some of the Boteler family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Boteler migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Boteler Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Ann Boteler, who landed in Maryland in 1663 [7]

Contemporary Notables of the name Boteler (post 1700) +

  • Wade Boteler (1891-1943), American actor who appeared in more than 430 films between 1919 and 1943
  • Joseph C. III Boteler (b. 1949), American Republican politician, Member of the Maryland House of Delegates (2003-) [8]
  • Edgar Lee "E.L." Boteler Jr. (1920-2016), American farmer and politician, Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives (1956-1972)
  • Alexander Robinson Boteler (1815-1892), American soldier and politician, colonel in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, and U.S. Representative from Virginia 8th District (1859-61)
  • Paul Boteler, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Apia, 1921 [8]
  • Lingan Boteler, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Barry, Maryland, 1866-69, 1874-75 [8]
  • Charles W. Boteler Jr., American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kentucky, 1972 [8]
  • Alexander Robinson Boteler (1815-1892), American politician, Representative from Virginia 8th District, 1859-61; Representative from Virginia in the Confederate Congress, 1862-64 [8]
  • Samuel Boteler Bristowe QC (1822-1897), English barrister and Liberal Party politician who survived a murder attempt in 1889


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 1 of 3
  4. 'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].
  5. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  6. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  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. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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