NameCensus.

UK surname

Butler

An occupational surname referring to a servant in charge of the wine cellar or the household in general.

In the 1881 census there were 29,165 people recorded with the Butler surname, ranking it #109 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 46,318, ranked #106, up from #109 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Winchester, Dudley and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Butler is 48,290 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.8%.

1881 census count

29,165

Ranked #109

Modern count

46,318

2016, ranked #106

Peak year

1999

48,290 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Butler had 29,165 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #109 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 46,318 in 2016, ranked #106.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 39,904 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Butler surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Butler surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Butler 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 16,520 #131
1861 historical 13,679 #180
1881 historical 29,165 #109
1891 historical 25,597 #136
1901 historical 38,269 #104
1911 historical 39,904 #89
1997 modern 46,029 #99
1998 modern 48,188 #98
1999 modern 48,290 #99
2000 modern 47,985 #99
2001 modern 46,906 #99
2002 modern 47,820 #101
2003 modern 46,545 #102
2004 modern 46,574 #103
2005 modern 45,794 #104
2006 modern 45,641 #105
2007 modern 45,808 #105
2008 modern 45,932 #105
2009 modern 47,052 #105
2010 modern 47,873 #105
2011 modern 47,278 #104
2012 modern 46,144 #106
2013 modern 47,032 #106
2014 modern 47,175 #106
2015 modern 46,519 #107
2016 modern 46,318 #106

Geography

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Where Butlers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Winchester, Dudley, Cheshire East, Oxford and Basingstoke and Deane. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Winchester 004 Winchester
2 Dudley 001 Dudley
3 Cheshire East 049 Cheshire East
4 Oxford 008 Oxford
5 Basingstoke and Deane 004 Basingstoke and Deane

Forenames

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First names often paired with Butler

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Butler

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Butler, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Butler surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Butler household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Butler is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Butler is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Butler falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Butler is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of 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.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Butler families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Butler 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. Middlesex leads with 3,722 Butlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.31x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 3,722 1.31x
Lancashire 2,904 0.86x
Yorkshire 2,505 0.89x
Surrey 1,771 1.28x
Staffordshire 1,758 1.83x
Warwickshire 1,512 2.10x
Kent 1,480 1.52x
Hampshire 1,012 1.73x
Berkshire 904 4.23x
Nottinghamshire 821 2.14x
Oxfordshire 781 4.44x
Gloucestershire 764 1.37x
Derbyshire 596 1.34x
Lincolnshire 588 1.29x
Sussex 535 1.11x
Worcestershire 495 1.33x
Wiltshire 491 1.95x
Essex 478 0.85x
Buckinghamshire 431 2.50x
Glamorgan 418 0.84x
Cheshire 394 0.63x
Northamptonshire 386 1.44x
Somerset 363 0.79x
Shropshire 359 1.46x
Durham 357 0.42x
Cambridgeshire 354 1.96x
Norfolk 298 0.68x
Devon 278 0.47x
Lanarkshire 255 0.28x
Leicestershire 255 0.81x
Hertfordshire 187 0.95x
Dorset 175 0.94x
Huntingdonshire 135 2.39x
Northumberland 125 0.30x
Cornwall 98 0.30x
Monmouthshire 97 0.47x
Midlothian 95 0.25x
Herefordshire 82 0.70x
Cumberland 81 0.33x
Roxburghshire 79 1.53x
Bedfordshire 73 0.50x
Pembrokeshire 67 0.74x
Flintshire 64 0.84x
Suffolk 53 0.15x
Channel Islands 43 0.51x
Renfrewshire 39 0.18x
Dunbartonshire 37 0.48x
Denbighshire 36 0.33x
Royal Navy 31 0.91x
Angus 29 0.11x
Ayrshire 27 0.13x
Caernarfonshire 26 0.23x
Fife 23 0.14x
Aberdeenshire 22 0.08x
Stirlingshire 21 0.20x
Carmarthenshire 20 0.17x
East Lothian 19 0.50x
Isle of Man 15 0.28x
Selkirkshire 15 0.58x
West Lothian 14 0.33x
Westmorland 14 0.22x
Brecknockshire 11 0.19x
Radnorshire 11 0.48x
Perthshire 10 0.08x
Rutland 10 0.48x
Montgomeryshire 9 0.14x
Nairnshire 8 0.92x
Berwickshire 6 0.17x
Kirkcudbrightshire 6 0.15x
Morayshire 6 0.14x
Cardiganshire 4 0.06x
Dumfriesshire 4 0.06x
Anglesey 2 0.04x
Inverness-shire 1 0.01x
Kinross-shire 1 0.14x
Merionethshire 1 0.02x
Shetland 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 512 Butlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.59x.

Place Total Index
Aston 512 2.59x
Birmingham 463 1.93x
Lambeth 345 1.39x
Camberwell 267 1.47x
Islington London 242 0.88x
Kensington London 228 1.44x
Nottingham St Mary 217 2.19x
Liverpool 212 1.03x
Darlaston 202 15.20x
St Marylebone London 202 1.33x
St Pancras London 201 0.88x
West Bromwich 197 3.58x
Hackney London 179 1.12x
Leeds 171 1.07x
Wolverhampton 171 2.31x
Mile End Old Town London 160 2.64x
Walsall Foreign 151 3.04x
Preston 149 1.65x
Hammersmith London 144 2.05x
Portsea 144 1.26x
Manchester 141 0.93x
West Ham 133 1.07x
Paddington London 130 1.24x
St George Hanover Square 129 2.57x
Chelsea London 127 1.48x
Salford 127 1.28x
Wednesbury 124 5.16x
Bradford 122 1.79x
Newington 120 1.14x
Bromley London 109 1.74x
Shoreditch London 109 0.88x
Battersea 107 1.02x
Bethnal Green London 107 0.86x
Coventry St Michael 105 4.55x
Fulham London 105 2.54x
Sheffield 104 1.16x
Bermondsey 100 1.18x
Clerkenwell London 98 1.46x
Lewisham 96 1.85x
Oldham 94 0.86x
Hucknall Torkard 93 9.55x
Poplar London 88 1.64x
Willenhall 86 4.78x
Barrow In Furness 83 1.81x
Deptford St Paul 83 1.11x
Handsworth 81 3.42x
Wokingham 81 16.60x
Kingsclere 80 30.00x
Leicester St Margaret 79 1.03x
Toxteth Park 79 0.69x
Chatham 77 2.88x
Greenwich 76 1.68x
Harborne 76 2.47x
Reading St Giles 76 3.62x
Ashton Under Lyne 75 1.02x
Barony 74 0.32x
Blackburn 72 0.80x
Glasgow 72 0.44x
Everton 70 0.65x
Egham 69 8.10x
Swaffham Bulbeck 69 95.12x
Brighton 68 0.70x
Holy Trinity 68 1.00x
Tipton 68 2.31x
Pendleton In Salford 67 1.66x
Peterborough 67 3.45x
Bow London 66 1.82x
Ealing 66 2.59x
Nether Hallam 66 1.73x
Sedgley 66 1.85x
Bedminster 64 1.49x
Cheltenham 64 1.49x
Westminster St John 64 1.85x
Bishopwearmouth 62 0.85x
Reading St Mary 61 3.56x
Doncaster 60 2.91x
West Derby 59 0.60x
Ramsey 58 12.81x
Southampton St Mary 58 1.58x
Wycombe 58 4.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1,912
Elizabeth 1,023
Sarah 960
Ann 568
Ellen 500
Jane 496
Annie 464
Eliza 460
Emma 452
Alice 407
Emily 337
Hannah 286
Margaret 261
Martha 253
Harriet 219
Charlotte 214
Edith 193
Louisa 193
Fanny 192
Caroline 181
Maria 174
Ada 159
Florence 154
Catherine 149
Kate 137
Clara 127
Anne 120
Lucy 119
Frances 108
Agnes 107
Susan 99
Rose 98
Harriett 92
Amelia 88
Esther 73
Julia 71
Rebecca 66
Amy 65
Matilda 64
Isabella 62
Sophia 57
Lydia 55
Elizth. 53
Gertrude 49
Jessie 48
Lizzie 46
Susannah 46
Eleanor 45
Maud 45
Ruth 44

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 1,749
John 1,588
George 1,014
Thomas 1,009
James 936
Charles 672
Henry 618
Joseph 459
Edward 365
Alfred 326
Richard 313
Arthur 282
Frederick 280
Robert 242
Samuel 234
Albert 207
Walter 205
Harry 163
Frank 162
Edwin 127
Francis 104
Ernest 103
David 101
Herbert 100
Wm. 86
Benjamin 83
Michael 60
Daniel 57
Thos. 57
Fred 47
Isaac 45
Tom 45
Stephen 44
Edmund 40
Patrick 38
Fredk. 34
Geo. 34
Chas. 33
Fredrick 33
Peter 31
Percy 29
Sidney 28
Job 27
Philip 24
Willm. 23
Christopher 22
Mark 21
Matthew 21
Sydney 21
Moses 20

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Butler households.

FAQ

Butler surname: questions and answers

How common was the Butler surname in 1881?

In 1881, 29,165 people were recorded with the Butler surname. That placed it at #109 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Butler surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 46,318 in 2016. That gives Butler a modern rank of #106.

What does the Butler surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a servant in charge of the wine cellar or the household in general.

What does the Butler map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Butler 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.