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Origin / History of the Butler Name This famous aristocratic surname is of Norman-French origins, and is one of the very few to be accepted as being pre-1066 in origin and recording, and even rarer still to be recorded in France itself. It is in a sense job descriptive, deriving the Olde French 'bouteillier' and meaning "one who supplies the bottles" but more specifically the wine Since many powerful nobles lived in fear of being poisoned, this was a position of considerable trust. However 'Bouteillier' in the surname sense defines status in a royal, or at least noble, household, along with the Marshall (Master of the Horse), the Steward (Head of the Estate), the (dis)Spencer (Head of Provisions) and the Bouteillier or Butler (Master of the Pantry). That the original 'Butlers' were much more than servants of any sort is shown by the fact that many Irish bearers of this name, may find their ancestry linked to Theobald FitzWalter. Theobald accompanied Henry II to Ireland in 1170, and in 1177 was created Chief Butler of Ireland by the king, and he subsequently adopted 'Butler' as his surname. Variations of the name include: Boteler, Botella, Botiller, Botler (though this may also be derived from: Middle English boteler – a maker of (leather) bottles; Middle English botel or Old French bouteille), Botlero (Spanish bottle maker), Bottell, Bottle, Botyller, Bouteiller, Boutillier, Boutler, Buteler, Butiller, Buttlar and Buttle.
Coat of Arms / Crest In England and Ireland no less than ninety four Coats of Arms have been granted to Boteler and Butler. The first being to Robert de Pincerna, butler to Randolf, Earl of Chester, in 1158. This original and ancient arms has the blazon of a red field, a bend between three goblets, all gold.
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