The Butler Family History

What Does the Butler Surname Mean? Historical Origins Explained

The surname Butler, with roots in both Ireland and England, derives from the Old French word bouteillier, which refers to a servant responsible for managing the wine cellar. Related French terms include butuiller and boutilier. Variations of the surname include Boteler and Boteler. In England, the highest concentrations of Butler families are found in Lancashire and Yorkshire, as well as in London and its surrounding counties. The surname is also prevalent in Canada. In the United States, notable populations of individuals with the surname Butler are found in states such as Georgia, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts. Additionally, many residents bearing the Butler name can be found throughout the southern states, extending into Florida. Noteworthy individuals associated with the surname include Benjamin Franklin Butler, a Union general during the Civil War; Brett Butler, a professional baseball player; LeRoy Butler, a professional football player; Ellis Parker Butler, a writer; Gerald Butler, a Scottish actor; Jerry Butler, a singer; Ovid Butler, a 19th-century abolitionist; Richard Butler, a general in the American Revolutionary War; and William Archer Butler, a 19th-century historian of philosophy from Ireland.