Contents [hide]

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

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Sources

Butler History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Ireland

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

the Butler family of Prussia

Butler World Ranking

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

Butler migration to the United States +

Butler Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Samuel Butler, who landed in America in 1620 8
John Butler, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 8
Francis Butler, aged 18, who arrived in Virginia in 1624-1625 aboard the ship "Francis Bonaventure" 8
Richard Butler, who arrived in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1632 8
Robert Butler, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 8
... (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 8
Alice Butler, who landed in Virginia in 1702 8
Bridgett Butler, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 8
Edward Butler, who arrived in Virginia in 1706 8
Simon Butler, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1710 8
... (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 8
Daniel Butler, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1806 8
Andrew Butler, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 8
Eliza Butler, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 8
George Butler, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 8
... (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 9

Butler migration to Canada +

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 10
... (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
Elizabeth Alice Butler, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1818
Catherine 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 included the First Fleet, Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet

Miss Mary Butler, (Desmond), (d. 1802), Irish settler convicted in London, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing beans, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 7
Mr. Joseph Butler, (1767 - 1836), aged 22, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1786, sentenced to 7 years for highway robbery, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 8
Miss Mary Butler, (1769 - 1812), aged18, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Lady Juliana" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 8

Second Fleet

Mr. Thomas Butler, (d. 1791), British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Active" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 8

Third Fleet

Mr. William Butler, (b. 1767), aged 20, Irish settler convicted in London on 7th July 1784, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Scarborough" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 8

Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia 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 11
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 12
Henry Butler, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia 13
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 14
Mr. John Butler, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 15
... (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 16
Thomas Charles Butler, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Thomas Charles Butler, aged 31, a carpenter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Coromandel" 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. 17

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 18

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
... (Another 43 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 19
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 20
Mrs. Ethel Butler (1893-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 21
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 22
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
... (Another 32 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"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)
"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
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
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
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
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 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
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
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