Butler Family History

English: from a word that originally denoted a wine steward, usually the chief servant of a medieval household, from Norman French butuiller (Old French bouteillier, Latin buticularius, from buticula ‘bottle’). In the large households of royalty and the most powerful nobility, the title came to denote an officer of high rank and responsibility, only nominally concerned with the supply of wine, if at all.

As well as being widespread in England, this is also the surname of an important Irish family, descended from Theobald FitzWalter, who was appointed Chief Butler of Ireland by King Henry II in 1177. It is Gaelicized as de Buitléir.

English: occasionally perhaps an occupational name from Middle English boteler ‘maker of bottles (usually of leather)’, a derivative of Middle English botel, Old French bo(u)teille ‘bottle’ and synonymous with Botelmaker.

Americanized form of French Bouthillier (see Bouteiller). Americanized form of German Buttler, a cognate of 1 above or of Buttlar (see Buttler).

Jewish (from Poland and Ukraine): occupational name for a bottle maker from Yiddish butl ‘bottle’ + the agent suffix -er.