O'Butlors History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

The O'Butlors 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 O'Butlors 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 O'Butlors 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 O'Butlors is de Buitléir.

Early Origins of the O'Butlors family

The surname O'Butlors 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 O'Butlors family

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

O'Butlors Spelling Variations

Church officials and medieval scribes often spelled early surnames as they sounded. This practice often resulted in many spelling variations of even a single name. Early versions of the name O'Butlors included: Butler, Buttler, McRichard and others.

Early Notables of the O'Butlors 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 O'Butlors Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the O'Butlors family

The Irish emigration during the late 18th and 19th century contributed to the melting pot of nationalities in North America, and the building of a whole new era of industry and commerce in what was seen as a rich, new land. Ireland'sGreat Potato Famine resulted in the worst economic and social conditions in the island's history. And in response to the hunger, disease, and poverty, during this decade the total number of emigrants to leave for North America rivaled all the previous years combined. Those from this decade that arrived on North American shores were not warmly welcomed by the established population, but they were vital to the rapid development of the industry, agriculture, and infrastructure of the infant nations of the United States and what would become Canada. Research into early immigration and passenger lists has shown many people bearing the name O'Butlors: Christopher Butler who settled in Virginia in 1670; the following, Charles, Daniel, Edward, Elizabeth, George, Giles, James, John, Joseph, Martin, Michael, Patrick, Richard, Thomas and William, all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860.

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.