Butler Family Crest, Coat of Arms & Butler Name Origin

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Origin of the Name Butler

The ancient history of the name Butler was found in the allfamilycrests.com archives. Butler is an occupational name meaning 'the bottler', from a person who made his living with this trade. This name is of Anglo-Norman descent spreading to Ireland, Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts in the above countries. Examples of such are a Katerina la Butelere of Norfolk England who was recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls' in the year 1273 and in Scotland Sir John le Botiler swore fealty in 1291. The name in Ireland was introduced by the Normans and dates back to the year 1220. A Theobald Fitzwalter was the chief of the Butlers and in 1328 one of his ancestors was created Earl of Ormond. Their headquarters were in Gowran, later being moved to Kilkenny Castle. For many years a great rivalry existed between the Butlers and the Geraldines, and for much of the time one or the other governed the country.