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

Butterfield, 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 Butterfield surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Butterfield in America

Butterfield is the 3152nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Butterfield surname appeared 11,468 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Butterfield.

We can also compare 2010 data for Butterfield 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 Butterfield

The surname Butterfield is of English origin, derived from the Old English words 'butere' meaning butter, and 'feld' meaning field. It likely originated as a locational name for someone who lived near a field where butter was made or traded.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Butterfield dates back to the 13th century in Yorkshire, England. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 mention a William de Buttresfeld in that county.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including Butterfield, Butresfeld, and Botterfield, reflecting the inconsistent spelling practices of the time. The Poll Tax returns of 1379 list a Thomas Buttresfeld in Cambridgeshire.

The Butterfield name is closely associated with the village of Butterfield in Derbyshire, which likely derived its name from the same etymology. This connection suggests that some early bearers of the surname may have originated from or resided near this location.

Notable individuals with the surname Butterfield throughout history include:

1. Sir John Butterfield (c. 1580-1644), an English judge and Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I.
2. William Butterfield (1814-1900), a renowned English Gothic Revival architect responsible for designing several churches and buildings across England.
3. Roger Butterfield (1897-1983), an American Olympian who won a gold medal in the 4x400 meter relay at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics.
4. Herbert Butterfield (1900-1979), a British historian and philosopher of history, best known for his work "The Whig Interpretation of History."
5. William Atkin Butterfield (1886-1958), a Canadian politician who served as the Premier of Manitoba from 1922 to 1928.

The surname Butterfield has a long and well-documented history in England, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. Its origin reflects the agricultural heritage of the English countryside and the importance of butter production in rural areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Butterfield

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

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 Butterfield 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 Butterfield 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 Butterfield was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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