Butler Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Butler Family History

Butler Family History

The Butler ancient family history was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. Butler is an occupational name meaning 'the bottler', from a person who made his living with this trade. This name is of Anglo-Norman descent spreading to Ireland, Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts in the above countries. Examples of such are a Katerina la Butelere of Norfolk England who was recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls' in the year 1273 and in Scotland Sir John le Botiler swore fealty in 1291. The name in Ireland was introduced by the Normans and dates back to the year 1220. A Theobald Fitzwalter was the chief of the Butlers and in 1328 one of his ancestors was created Earl of Ormond. Their headquarters were in Gowran, later being moved to Kilkenny Castle. For many years a great rivalry existed between the Butlers and the Geraldines, and for much of the time one or the other governed the country.The Butler family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Butler descendants.