Butler
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Butler Surname Genealogy
Butler as an occupational name originally denoted a servant in charge of the wine cellar, from the Norman French word butuiller. 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. The name can also be Jewish, an anglicized form of the Yiddish name for a bottle-maker.
In more recent years, there has been a sizeable Butler presence in the north, in Lancashire and Yorkshire, in Staffordshire and Warwickshire, and in the southeast.
Ireland. The Butler dynasty in Ireland began with Theobald Walter, who was part of the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in the 1170's and was given the title of Chief Butler of Ireland. For centuries the Butlers were a power in SE Ireland from their stronghold of Kilkenny castle. The last Butler left the castle and Ireland permanently in 1935.
The Butlers of Ormond were the senior branch of the family. Other Butlers were those of Dunboyne, Cahir, Polestown and Roscrea, and Mountgarret.
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James Butler was a prominent 17th century Anglo-Irish soldier and statesman. He fought against the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland but returned to English favor after the Restoration.
Pierce Butler from Ireland represented South Carolina in the Constitutional Convention and is recognized as one of the United States' Founding Fathers.
Samuel Butler was the Victorian writer of the Utopian satire Erewhon.
Rab Butler was a prominent postwar Conservative politician who was expected to but didn't become Prime Minister.
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For other surnames check the companion selectsurname.com site where there are to be found the history and genealogy for more than 500 surnames.
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Butler as an occupational name originally denoted a servant in charge of the wine cellar, from the Norman French word butuiller. 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. The name can also be Jewish, an anglicized form of the Yiddish name for a bottle-maker.
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Butler Resources on
The
Internet
- The Butler Society. A one-name society.
- The Butler Family of Sussex. Butlers in Sussex.
- Butler Global DNA Project. Butler DNA.
In more recent years, there has been a sizeable Butler presence in the north, in Lancashire and Yorkshire, in Staffordshire and Warwickshire, and in the southeast.
Ireland. The Butler dynasty in Ireland began with Theobald Walter, who was part of the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in the 1170's and was given the title of Chief Butler of Ireland. For centuries the Butlers were a power in SE Ireland from their stronghold of Kilkenny castle. The last Butler left the castle and Ireland permanently in 1935.
The Butlers of Ormond were the senior branch of the family. Other Butlers were those of Dunboyne, Cahir, Polestown and Roscrea, and Mountgarret.
Select Butler Names
James Butler was a prominent 17th century Anglo-Irish soldier and statesman. He fought against the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland but returned to English favor after the Restoration.
Pierce Butler from Ireland represented South Carolina in the Constitutional Convention and is recognized as one of the United States' Founding Fathers.
Samuel Butler was the Victorian writer of the Utopian satire Erewhon.
Rab Butler was a prominent postwar Conservative politician who was expected to but didn't become Prime Minister.
Select Butlers Today
- 63,000 in the UK (most numerous in Kent)
- 60,000 in America (most numerous in Texas)
- 58,000 elsewhere (most numerous in Canada)
Select Surname List
For other surnames check the companion selectsurname.com site where there are to be found the history and genealogy for more than 500 surnames.
Return to Main Page