NameCensus.

UK surname

Butchart

An English surname derived from the Old English words "butte" (a ridge) and "chart" (rough ground covered with bushes).

In the 1881 census there were 676 people recorded with the Butchart surname, ranking it #5,331 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 752, ranked #7,274, down from #5,331 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Monifieth, Forfar and Arbroath and St. Vigeans. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Logie and Blackness, Docks and Wellgate and Downfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Butchart is 841 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.2%.

1881 census count

676

Ranked #5,331

Modern count

752

2016, ranked #7,274

Peak year

1901

841 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Butchart had 676 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,331 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 752 in 2016, ranked #7,274.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 841 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Butchart surname distribution map

The map shows where the Butchart surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Butchart surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Butchart over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 496 #5,039
1861 historical 409 #6,283
1881 historical 676 #5,331
1891 historical 775 #5,176
1901 historical 841 #5,411
1911 historical 220 #14,088
1997 modern 719 #7,096
1998 modern 740 #7,178
1999 modern 736 #7,249
2000 modern 719 #7,356
2001 modern 695 #7,414
2002 modern 712 #7,412
2003 modern 714 #7,261
2004 modern 715 #7,263
2005 modern 716 #7,196
2006 modern 700 #7,351
2007 modern 708 #7,353
2008 modern 715 #7,361
2009 modern 751 #7,235
2010 modern 760 #7,315
2011 modern 737 #7,416
2012 modern 702 #7,589
2013 modern 720 #7,578
2014 modern 730 #7,534
2015 modern 734 #7,448
2016 modern 752 #7,274

Geography

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Where Butcharts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Monifieth, Forfar, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Gateshead and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Logie and Blackness, Docks and Wellgate, Downfield, Epping Forest and The Glens. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Monifieth Forfar
2 Forfar Forfar
3 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Logie and Blackness Dundee City
2 Docks and Wellgate Dundee City
3 Downfield Dundee City
4 Epping Forest 009 Epping Forest
5 The Glens Dundee City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Butchart

These lists show first names that appear often with the Butchart surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Butchart

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Butchart, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Butchart surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Butchart household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Butchart is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Butchart is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Butchart falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Butchart is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Butchart, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Butchart

The surname Butchart originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "butt" and "croft," which together mean "a small piece of land adjoining a house." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname were landowners or tenants of a small plot of land.

The name Butchart can be traced back to the 13th century in records from the Scottish Lowlands. One of the earliest documented instances is in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1265, which mention a "Willelmo de Butecroft" (William of Butcroft).

In the 14th century, the spelling of the name evolved to its modern form, with instances such as "Johanne de Butchart" appearing in the Records of the Priory of St. Andrews in 1348.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Butchart became more widespread throughout Scotland, with bearers found in various regions, including Fife, Ayrshire, and Lanarkshire. One notable figure from this period was John Butchart, a merchant and burgess of Edinburgh, who was recorded in the city's records in 1586.

In the 18th century, the Butchart family expanded their presence in Scotland, with members holding prominent positions in various professions. For example, William Butchart (1727-1809) was a renowned Presbyterian minister and writer from Fife.

As the British Empire expanded, the Butchart name also spread to other parts of the world. In the 19th century, Robert Pim Butchart (1856-1943), a Canadian entrepreneur and horticulturist, established the world-famous Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia, which became a major tourist attraction.

Other notable individuals with the surname Butchart include David Butchart (1856-1924), a Scottish-born Australian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia, and Charles Butchart (1901-1973), a Canadian businessman and philanthropist who contributed significantly to the development of the town of Port Alberni in British Columbia.

The Butchart surname has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval Scotland, where it originated as a descriptor of landholders or tenants of small plots of land. Over the centuries, the name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, ministers, politicians, and entrepreneurs, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and historical landscapes of Scotland, Canada, Australia, and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Butchart families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Butchart surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Angus leads with 455 Butcharts recorded in 1881 and an index of 74.59x.

County Total Index
Angus 455 74.59x
Perthshire 39 13.20x
Durham 31 1.58x
Midlothian 31 3.51x
Surrey 19 0.59x
Lanarkshire 17 0.80x
Lancashire 16 0.20x
Fife 15 3.85x
Cheshire 11 0.76x
Aberdeenshire 8 1.31x
Kent 7 0.31x
Middlesex 7 0.11x
Dunbartonshire 6 3.39x
Yorkshire 5 0.08x
Shetland 3 4.46x
Argyllshire 1 0.55x
Essex 1 0.08x
Northumberland 1 0.10x
Roxburghshire 1 0.84x
Royal Navy 1 1.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 165 Butcharts recorded in 1881 and an index of 72.45x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 165 72.45x
Liff Benvie 55 59.40x
Monifieth 44 204.18x
St Vigeans 35 106.29x
Forfar 32 96.88x
Montrose 28 75.74x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 27 7.61x
Arbroath 20 98.91x
Barry 13 177.60x
Bishopwearmouth 13 7.73x
Blairgowrie 13 111.21x
Maryhill 11 26.39x
Moulin 11 235.55x
Westoe 11 9.91x
Coupar Angus 10 173.31x
Airlie 9 459.18x
Birkenhead 9 7.77x
Aberdeen Old Machar 8 6.28x
Craig 8 135.82x
Mains 8 154.44x
Gillingham 7 15.11x
Lambeth 7 1.22x
Toxteth Park 7 2.65x
Bermondsey 6 3.06x
Dumbarton 6 24.36x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 7.07x
Logierait 6 115.38x
Walton On Hill 6 14.17x
Newtyle 5 241.55x
Southwark St Saviour 5 14.78x
Cupar 4 23.60x
Forgan 4 53.55x
Govan 4 0.76x
Kirkleatham 4 45.40x
Leuchars 4 81.14x
Panbride 4 125.79x
Rattray 4 58.14x
Arbirlot 3 161.29x
Bressay Burra Quarff 3 102.39x
Kirriemuir 3 19.93x
Lochee 3 55.15x
North Leith 3 7.35x
West Derby 3 1.31x
Anstruther Wester 2 131.58x
Auchterhouse 2 133.33x
Bethnal Green London 2 0.70x
Cargill 2 64.94x
Hamilton 2 3.37x
Hampstead London 2 1.95x
Inverarity 2 102.04x
Methven 2 46.19x
Tranmere 2 3.74x
Aberlemno 1 44.44x
Ardchattan Muckairn 1 22.08x
Carmyllie 1 38.46x
Cortachy 1 131.58x
Cowpen 1 4.43x
Dunnichen 1 31.06x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 5.46x
Ferry Port On Craig 1 15.60x
Glamis 1 27.17x
Hawick 1 3.75x
Inchture 1 68.03x
Kensington London 1 0.27x
Leeds 1 0.27x
Oathlaw 1 99.01x
Royal Navy 1 1.49x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 0.75x
St George Hanover Square 1 0.86x
Stranton 1 1.52x
West Ham 1 0.35x
Westminster St John 1 1.25x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Butchart surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 8
Jane 5
Elizabeth 4
Catherine 3
Annie 2
Florence 2
Grace 2
Hannah 2
Sarah 2
Adamina 1
Agnes 1
Alfred 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Christina 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Ella 1
Ellen 1
Eva 1
Harriet 1
Isabel 1
Jessie 1
Joan 1
Kate 1
Lillian 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
May 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Butchart surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
James 6
John 6
William 6
Robert 5
Charles 3
Thomas 3
Alexander 2
David 2
Peter 2
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Danl. 1
Frank 1
George 1
Joseph 1
Patrick 1
Robt.P.O. 1
S. 1
Sidney 1
Washington 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Butchart surname: questions and answers

How common was the Butchart surname in 1881?

In 1881, 676 people were recorded with the Butchart surname. That placed it at #5,331 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Butchart surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 752 in 2016. That gives Butchart a modern rank of #7,274.

What does the Butchart surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English words "butte" (a ridge) and "chart" (rough ground covered with bushes).

What does the Butchart map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Butchart bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.