Explore the Family Name Butter
The meaning of Butter
1. Dutch and German: occupational name for a dairyman or seller of butter, from Middle Dutch butter and Middle High German buter. 2. English: occupational name for a dairyman, a shortened form of Middle English buterer ‘maker or seller of butter’. Alternatively, it may be a nickname from Middle English buter(e) ‘butter’. 3. English and Scottish: occupational name for someone who was in charge of provisions, the keeper of a buttery or wine store (from Old French boter). 4. English (of Norman origin): possibly a shortened variant of Bultitude from Anglo-Norman French bote torte ‘twisted boot’ (bote ‘boot’ + torte ‘twisted’), from which arose the name Botetourt County, Virginia. 5. English: occasionally perhaps a nickname from Middle English botor, Old French butor ‘bittern’, a bird that is noted for its boom in the breeding season; it was sometimes known as ‘the bull of the bog’. Some characteristic forenames: German Arno, Gerhard, Mathias, Reinhart.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Butter in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Butter has seen some fluctuations in popularity over the years. In 2000, it ranked 36,463 among all surnames, dropping to 39,164 by 2010—a decline of 7.41 percent. The number of people carrying the Butter surname also fell slightly from 579 in 2000 to 562 in 2010, representing a decrease of 2.94 percent. Consequently, the proportion of those with the Butter surname per 100,000 people also declined by 9.52 percent over this ten-year period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #36,463 | #39,164 | -7.41% |
| Count | 579 | 562 | -2.94% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.21 | 0.19 | -9.52% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Butter
When examining the ethnic identity associated with the Butter surname, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows notable diversity and change over time. Most notably, there's been a significant increase of 157.44 percent in the proportion of Asian/Pacific Islanders identifying as Butters, rising from 2.42 percent in 2000 to 6.23 percent in 2010. Despite a slight decrease of 4.44 percent, individuals of White ethnicity continue to represent the majority of those with the Butter surname, making up 72.95 percent of the total in 2010. Meanwhile, the proportions of those of Hispanic and Black ethnicity have slightly decreased, with the former falling by 0.89 percent and the latter by 2.12 percent. No information was recorded for those identifying as two or more races, or American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 76.34% | 72.95% | -4.44% |
| Black | 10.36% | 10.14% | -2.12% |
| Hispanic | 8.98% | 8.9% | -0.89% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 2.42% | 6.23% | 157.44% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |