UK surname
An English surname derived from a place name possibly relating to butter making or selling.
In the 1881 census there were 71 people recorded with the Buttrey surname, ranking it #23,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 45, ranked #35,162, down from #23,517 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Batley and West Ham,Wanstead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Buttrey is 125 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 36.6%.
1881 census count
71
Ranked #23,517
Modern count
45
2016, ranked #35,162
Peak year
1851
125 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Buttrey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Buttrey surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 125 | #14,700 |
| 1861 | historical | 74 | #24,370 |
| 1881 | historical | 71 | #23,517 |
| 1891 | historical | 100 | #24,045 |
| 1901 | historical | 100 | #22,863 |
| 1911 | historical | 98 | #22,959 |
| 1997 | modern | 51 | #32,545 |
| 1998 | modern | 53 | #32,633 |
| 1999 | modern | 51 | #32,940 |
| 2000 | modern | 52 | #32,916 |
| 2001 | modern | 51 | #32,850 |
| 2002 | modern | 55 | #32,831 |
| 2003 | modern | 52 | #33,160 |
| 2004 | modern | 45 | #33,957 |
| 2005 | modern | 45 | #34,160 |
| 2006 | modern | 47 | #34,335 |
| 2007 | modern | 43 | #34,845 |
| 2008 | modern | 42 | #34,994 |
| 2009 | modern | 41 | #35,221 |
| 2010 | modern | 43 | #35,233 |
| 2011 | modern | 47 | #34,989 |
| 2012 | modern | 45 | #35,105 |
| 2013 | modern | 46 | #35,110 |
| 2014 | modern | 45 | #35,201 |
| 2015 | modern | 45 | #35,161 |
| 2016 | modern | 45 | #35,162 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Batley, West Ham,Wanstead, Ercall Magna, Roddington and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors | Shropshire |
| 2 | Batley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | West Ham,Wanstead | Essex |
| 4 | Ercall Magna, Roddington | Shropshire |
| 5 | Leeds | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Buttrey surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Buttrey, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Buttrey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Buttrey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Buttrey is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Buttrey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Buttrey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Buttrey originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "butere" and "ye," which translate to "butter" and "island" or "meadow." This suggests that the name may have been associated with someone who lived near a meadow or island where dairy farming took place.
The name has been recorded in various spellings throughout history, including Buttry, Butterie, and Buttery. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled "Buterig."
In the 13th century, a Robert de Buttry was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273. This record suggests that the name may have been associated with a place name or location in Cambridgeshire.
During the 14th century, the surname appeared in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where a John Buttry was listed as a taxpayer.
In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name Buttrey was Sir William Buttrey, who was born in 1530 and served as a Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire in 1584.
Another prominent individual with this surname was John Buttrey, born in 1675, who was an English clergyman and author. He wrote several theological works and served as the rector of Thenford in Northamptonshire.
In the 18th century, the name appeared in the baptismal records of St. Mary's Church in Islington, London, where a William Buttrey was baptized in 1712.
Moving into the 19th century, a notable Buttrey was Thomas Buttrey, born in 1804, who was a well-known architect and surveyor from Leek, Staffordshire. He designed several notable buildings in the area, including the Leek Town Hall.
Another significant figure with this surname was Elizabeth Buttrey, born in 1835, who was a prominent educator and founded the Buttrey School for Girls in Harrogate, Yorkshire, in 1865.
These examples illustrate the long history and widespread distribution of the surname Buttrey across various regions of England, as well as its association with notable individuals from different walks of life.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Buttrey surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 40 Buttreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.83x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 40 | 5.83x |
| Monmouthshire | 5 | 9.99x |
| Derbyshire | 4 | 3.69x |
| Shropshire | 4 | 6.69x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 1.71x |
| Durham | 3 | 1.46x |
| Essex | 3 | 2.20x |
| Surrey | 3 | 0.89x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.24x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.15x |
| Denbighshire | 1 | 3.82x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gildersome in Yorkshire leads with 26 Buttreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3170.73x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Gildersome | 26 | 3170.73x |
| Leeds | 10 | 25.81x |
| Aberystruth | 5 | 113.38x |
| Bradwell | 4 | 1666.67x |
| Rugeley | 4 | 238.10x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 3 | 16.97x |
| Morley | 3 | 84.03x |
| West Ham | 3 | 9.94x |
| Battersea | 2 | 7.85x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 3.44x |
| Castleton | 2 | 24.39x |
| Lt Wenlock | 2 | 1538.46x |
| Newington | 1 | 3.91x |
| Pudsey | 1 | 27.25x |
| Ruabon | 1 | 27.78x |
| Shawbury | 1 | 434.78x |
| Wellington | 1 | 29.76x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Buttrey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Buttrey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Buttrey households.
FAQ
In 1881, 71 people were recorded with the Buttrey surname. That placed it at #23,517 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 45 in 2016. That gives Buttrey a modern rank of #35,162.
An English surname derived from a place name possibly relating to butter making or selling.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Buttrey bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.