NameCensus.

UK surname

Butterly

A surname potentially derived from the Old English word "butere," meaning one who prepared or sold butter.

In the 1881 census there were 66 people recorded with the Butterly surname, ranking it #24,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 239, ranked #17,322, up from #24,256 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Westminster and Scotstoun South and West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Butterly is 259 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 262.1%.

1881 census count

66

Ranked #24,256

Modern count

239

2016, ranked #17,322

Peak year

2010

259 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Butterly had 66 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,256 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 239 in 2016, ranked #17,322.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 89 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Routine Occupations or Retirement.

Butterly surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Butterly surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Butterly 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 64 #21,914
1861 historical 89 #22,419
1881 historical 66 #24,256
1891 historical 52 #30,061
1901 historical 65 #26,917
1911 historical 36 #29,370
1997 modern 224 #16,392
1998 modern 231 #16,555
1999 modern 234 #16,506
2000 modern 239 #16,239
2001 modern 233 #16,260
2002 modern 243 #16,147
2003 modern 235 #16,291
2004 modern 235 #16,379
2005 modern 224 #16,876
2006 modern 220 #17,204
2007 modern 219 #17,425
2008 modern 231 #16,973
2009 modern 242 #16,789
2010 modern 259 #16,386
2011 modern 252 #16,543
2012 modern 238 #17,092
2013 modern 246 #16,979
2014 modern 246 #17,079
2015 modern 242 #17,191
2016 modern 239 #17,322

Geography

Back to top

Where Butterlys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Westminster, Scotstoun South and West, Solihull and Knightswood Park West. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 021 Cornwall
2 Westminster 023 Westminster
3 Scotstoun South and West Glasgow City
4 Solihull 030 Solihull
5 Knightswood Park West Glasgow City

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Butterly

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Butterly

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Routine Occupations or Retirement

Nationally, the Butterly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Routine Occupations or Retirement, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Butterly household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are characterised by high proportions of single, often never-married adults of normal retirement age or older, including many that are in the most advanced age groups. Most adults are UK born and live at high residential densities, and many of the children living with parents are in adulthood. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are uncommon, but above average proportions of households include individuals that identify with different ethnic groups. Long-term disability is relatively common, and the dominant accommodation type is flats. Unemployment rates are high, with most of those employed working in routine occupations. Few individuals have high level qualifications. Car ownership is not high.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Butterly is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Butterly is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Butterly falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Butterly is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Butterly

The surname Butterly originated in England, specifically in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, during the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "butor" and "leah," meaning "bittern" (a type of heron) and "meadow" or "clearing," respectively. Consequently, the name likely referred to someone who lived near a meadow or clearing where bitterns were commonly found.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Lancashire Inquests of 1311, where a John de Butterlagh is mentioned. This spelling variation suggests that the name was originally a locational surname, referring to a specific place called "Butterleigh" or something similar.

In the 15th century, the name appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a Richard Butterley is listed as a tenant in 1459. This spelling variation further supports the theory of the name's locational origin.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Butterly began to spread across various parts of England, with notable bearers including:

1. John Butterly (c. 1540-1598), a prosperous merchant and landowner from Derbyshire. 2. Elizabeth Butterly (c. 1620-1679), a prominent Puritan author and poet from Lincolnshire. 3. Thomas Butterly (1670-1743), a renowned clockmaker and inventor from Yorkshire.

As the surname evolved, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Butterley, Butterly, Butterleigh, and Butterlie. These variations can be found in historical records and documents throughout the centuries.

In the 18th century, the name gained further prominence with the achievements of:

4. William Butterly (1712-1785), a highly respected architect and builder from Nottinghamshire. 5. Margaret Butterly (1746-1821), a celebrated painter and portraitist from Suffolk.

Over the centuries, the Butterly surname has been associated with numerous notable individuals across various fields, including arts, literature, commerce, and craftsmanship. While the name's exact origins may be obscure, its longevity and prevalence in historical records attest to its deep-rooted English heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Butterly families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Butterly 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. Northumberland leads with 18 Butterlys recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.51x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 18 18.51x
Lancashire 12 1.55x
Yorkshire 11 1.70x
Middlesex 8 1.22x
Berkshire 6 12.23x
Hampshire 3 2.24x
Dunbartonshire 2 11.39x
Essex 2 1.55x
Buckinghamshire 1 2.53x
Kent 1 0.45x
Lanarkshire 1 0.47x
Midlothian 1 1.14x
Royal Navy 1 12.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Huddersfield in Yorkshire leads with 10 Butterlys recorded in 1881 and an index of 106.04x.

Place Total Index
Huddersfield 10 106.04x
Shoreditch London 8 28.24x
Clewer 6 298.51x
Elswick 6 77.32x
Westgate 6 99.67x
Halliwell 5 177.31x
Earsdon 4 506.33x
Salford 4 17.54x
Kirkdale 2 15.33x
Row 2 88.11x
St Mary Kalendar 2 714.29x
Tendring St Nicolas 2 1538.46x
Whitley 2 645.16x
Datchet 1 370.37x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 7.59x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 1 48.31x
Farnborough 1 303.03x
Govan 1 1.91x
Southampton St Mary 1 11.88x
Walton On Hill 1 23.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Ann 2
Elizabeth 2
Ellen 2
Isabella 2
Julia 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Amanda 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Elezebeth 1
Esther 1
Harriet 1
Jane 1
Kezia 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Minna 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 7
Thomas 4
George 3
James 3
William 2
Andrew 1
Bartholomew 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Charley 1
Emonanent 1
Frederick 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Kelly 1
Phillip 1
Tom 1

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 Butterly households.

FAQ

Butterly surname: questions and answers

How common was the Butterly surname in 1881?

In 1881, 66 people were recorded with the Butterly surname. That placed it at #24,256 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Butterly surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 239 in 2016. That gives Butterly a modern rank of #17,322.

What does the Butterly surname mean?

A surname potentially derived from the Old English word "butere," meaning one who prepared or sold butter.

What does the Butterly map show?

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