The Butterworth surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 4,375 people carried this name — #7,597 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 67,600 people counted. That is up 1% from 4,336 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Butterworth surname

Habitational surname from a place in Lancashire, from Old English butere (“butter”) + worþ (“enclosure”).

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Butterworth» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘of Butterworth’.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 152 · public domain.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Butterworth was found among the farmers of Lancashire: 13 in every 10,000.

Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Lancashire 13

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In print

Butterworth in American newspapers,
1894–1918.

Newspaper page from The Portland Daily Press carrying the name Butterworth
The Portland Daily Press 1894-03-20
Newspaper page from The Herald-advance carrying the name Butterworth
The Herald-advance 1918-11-29
Newspaper page from Yorkville Enquirer carrying the name Butterworth
Yorkville Enquirer 1898-12-10

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 47,633 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Butterworth in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2010s.

25,955 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Butterworth. The most, 4,666, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in South Australia, at 1.5 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 11,736
South Australia 4,520
Victoria 3,237
Queensland 3,116
Tasmania 2,365
Western Australia 814
ACT (Canberra) 98
Northern Territory 2

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Butterworth.

Who carried it

People named Butterworth,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Lionel Milner Angus-Butterworth d. 1995 · businessperson
  • Esther Butterworth d. 1879
  • Susanna Butterworth d. 1772
  • Gladys Ethel Florence Dryden d. 1995
  • Sarah Butterworth d. 1800
  • John Campbell Butterworth d. 1944

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Butterworth,
in the records of 6 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States826 records

826 records of the Butterworth name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 384
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 156
  • Other U.S. records 286
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record John R. Butterworth

    Born 1921 in Indiana. Enlisted 1942 at San Francisco, California; construction laborer. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1987, buried at Riverside National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Annie Butterworth

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Etruria from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 19; mill worker. From Liverpool, England; bound for Boston.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Donald H. Butterworth

    Born 1947; from Baltimore, Maryland. U.S. Army, radio operator; died in an accident 1969 in Binh Duong, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 826 records for Butterworth in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia1,363 records

1,363 records of the Butterworth name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 563
  • Tasmanian Names Index 438
  • Other Australian records 362
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Samuel Butterworth

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Lady Nugent, sailing from London in 1836. Native of Withy Grove, Lancashire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1843.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Richard William Butterworth

    Born 1865 in Westbury, Tasmania. Married 1897 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 32.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Florence Butterworth

    Arrived in Victoria in 1905 aboard the Medic, aged 30.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,363 records for Butterworth in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

United Kingdom77 records

77 records of the Butterworth name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 72
  • Welsh wills index cards 2
  • Other British records 3
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Arthur Butterworth

    Buried in 1944 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 44.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Dora Alice Butterworth

    Will proved in 1939; of Deganwy, Carnarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record C. H. Butterworth

    Sapper, Royal Engineers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 77 records for Butterworth in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Canada44 records

44 records of the Butterworth name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 13
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 10
  • Other Canadian records 21
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Robert Butterworth

    Came to Ontario in 1877 aboard the Sardinian, bound for Moorfield, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record James Howcroft Butterworth

    Buried in 1976 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 79.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Jane Butterworth

    Died 1933 in North Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 44 records for Butterworth in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

New Zealand18 records

18 records of the Butterworth name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 13
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 3
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Will Hamer Butterworth

    Died 1916, aged 61; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Arthur Elvyn Butterworth

    Died 1969, aged 66; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Ann Butterworth

    Buried in 1908 at Shortland Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 75.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 18 records for Butterworth in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands6 records

6 records of the Butterworth name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 5
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 1
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Mary Butterworth

    Married in 1747 in Rotterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Joan Butterworth

    In the population register of 's-Gravenhage; born in Oakland.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Emerson Mac Millin Butterworth

    In the population register of 's-Gravenhage; born 1894 in Colombes.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 6 records for Butterworth in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Butterworth.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Butterworth is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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