Butler Surname History

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SURNAME MEANING
An English occupational surname originally denoting a person who was a wine steward or chief servant employed in a medieval household, derived from the Norman French word butuiller, which in turn derives from the Latin word buticula, meaning “bottle”. It eventually came to be used to describe a servant of high responsibility in a noble household, mostly leaving behind its association with the supply of wine.

EARLY BEARERS
Hugo Buteiller – France – 1055 AD
Katerina la Butelere – Norfolk – 1273
Adam le Buteler – Herefordshire – 1273
Clement le Butiller – Norfolk – 1273
Faukes le Buteller – Lincolnshire – 1273
Richard le Botiler – Buckinghamshire – 1273
William le Botilier – Nottinghamshire – 1273
Hugo le Botyler – Cambridgeshire – 1273

Theobald FitzWalter was appointed Chief Butler of Ireland by King Henry II in 1177 and was the first to adopt the surname Butler in Ireland.

LANDED GENTRY
Butler of Castle Crine, co. Clare, Ireland
Butler of Waterville House, co. Kerry, Ireland
Butler of Priestown, co. Meath, Ireland
Butler of Ballyline, co. Clare, Ireland
Butler of Cazenoves House, co. Middlesex, England
Butler of Kilmurry, co. Kilkenny, Ireland

NOTABLES
Richard Butler (1743-1791) was an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War who was later killed while he was fighting Native Americans in the United States in a battle that is known as St. Clair's Defeat.

Eleanor Butler (1739–1829) and Sarah Ponsonby (1755–1831), were two upper-class Irish women who lived together as a couple. Their relationship scandalised and fascinated their contemporaries.

Pierce Mason Butler (1798-1847) was an American soldier and statesman who served as the 56th Governor of South Carolina from 1836 to 1838.

Edward Butler (1762-1803) was an officer in the United States Army who served as acting Adjutant General and acting Inspector General of the U.S. Army

Joseph Butler (1692–1752) Bishop of Durham

John Butler (1717–1802) Bishop of Oxford

Samuel Butler (1774-1839) was an English classical scholar and schoolmaster of Shrewsbury School, and Bishop of Lichfield.

Samuel Butler (1613-1680) was an English poet and satirist.

William Butler (1535-1618) was an English academic and physician to King James I. A Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, he gained a reputation as an eccentric, a drunkard, and "the greatest physician of his time".

Lieutenant General Sir William Francis Butler (1838-1910) was an Irish 19th-century British Army officer, writer, and adventurer.

EARLY SETTLERS
John Butler – Virginia – 1622
Francis Butler – Virginia – 1624
Richard Butler – Massachusetts – 1632
Robert Butler – Virginia – 1635
George Butler – 1635
Gyles Butler – 1635
Henry Butler – 1635

NOBLE TITLES HELD
Earl of Carrick was a title in the Peerage of Ireland first created in 1315 for Sir Edmund Butler, chief governor of Ireland during the Scottish invasion, younger son of Theobald Butler, 4th Chief Butler of Ireland. The title was recreated in 1748 for Somerset Butler.

Thomas Butler was created Baron Dunboyne in 1324, son of Theobald Butler, 4th Chief Butler of Ireland, fought and died at the Battle of Ardnocher in 1329.

Edmond Butler, 11th Baron Dunboyne, was elevated to the Peerage of Ireland in 1541.

Earl of Ormond was a title created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1328 for James Butler, son of Edmund Butler, Earl of Carrick

James Butler, 5th Earl of Ormond, was created Earl of Wiltshire in the Peerage of England in 1449 for his fidelity to the Lancastrian interest during the War of the Roses.

Viscount Mountgarret was a title in the Peerage of Ireland created in 1550 for Richard Butler, a younger son of Piers Butler, 8th Earl of Ormond.

Baron of Cahir was a title in the Peerage of Ireland created in 1543 for Thomas Butler. His cousin, Sir Theobald Butler, was created
Baron Cahir (second creation) in 1583.

Viscount Butler of Tulleophelim in the County of Carlow was a title created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1605 for Theobald Butler, son of son of Sir Edmund Butler of Cloughgrenan

The Butler Baronetcy of Cloughgrenan in the County of Carlow was created in the Baronetage of Ireland in 1628 for Sir Thomas Butler, High Sheriff, son of Sir Edmund Butler of Cloughgrenan

Viscount Ikerrin was a title in the Peerage of Ireland first created in 1629 for Sir Pierce Butler

The Butler Baronetcy of Polestown (Paulstown) in the County of Kilkenny, was created in the Baronetage of Ireland in 1645 for Sir Walter Butler, son of Edmond Butler, son of Walter Butler, son of Sir Edmund MacRichard Butler, son of Sir Richard Butler (1395-1443) of Polestown

Duke of Ormond was a title in the Peerage of Ireland created in 1661 for Lieutenant General James FitzThomas Butler, son of Thomas Butler, Viscount Thurles