Find out how popular the last name Butler is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Butler.

Butler, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Butler surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Butler in America

Butler is the 108th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Butler surname appeared 218,847 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 74 people would have the surname Butler.

We can also compare 2010 data for Butler to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Butler

The surname Butler has its origins in the medieval occupation of the same name, derived from the Old French 'bouteillier', meaning 'bottle bearer' or 'cup bearer'. This role was initially a high-ranking position in noble households, responsible for managing the wine cellar and serving drinks to the lord and his guests.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Butler can be traced back to the 12th century in England and Ireland. It is believed that the name was brought to England by Norman settlers after the conquest of 1066. In Ireland, the powerful Butler family established themselves as the Earls of Ormond and played a significant role in the country's history.

One of the most notable early references to the name Butler can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror. The book lists several individuals with the surname Butler, indicating their presence in various parts of England during that time.

In the 13th century, a prominent figure named Theobald Butler (1201-1285) served as the Chief Butler of Ireland and was granted extensive lands in County Tipperary. His descendants became known as the Butlers of Ormond and held significant power and influence in Ireland for centuries.

Another notable Butler was James Butler (1610-1688), the first Duke of Ormond, who played a pivotal role in the English Civil War and the Restoration of the monarchy under Charles II. He was a skilled military commander and served as the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

In the United States, the Butler name gained prominence with individuals such as Benjamin Franklin Butler (1818-1893), a major general in the American Civil War and a prominent political figure. He served as a congressman and the 33rd Governor of Massachusetts.

Renowned novelist and critic Samuel Butler (1835-1902) was an English author best known for his satirical works, including the utopian novel "Erewhon" and the semi-autobiographical novel "The Way of All Flesh".

The surname Butler has also been associated with various place names, such as Butlerstown in County Waterford, Ireland, and Butler County in Pennsylvania, United States, reflecting the impact and presence of families bearing this name throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Butler

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Butler.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Butler was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Butler has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Butler was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Butler, please contact us.

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