Butler () is the name of a Hiberno-Norman noble family whose members were, for several centuries, prominent in the administration of the Lordship of Ireland and the Kingdom of Ireland. They rose to their highest prominence as Dukes of Ormonde. The family has produced multiple titles such as Baron Cahir, Baron Dunboyne, Viscount Ikerrin, Viscount Galmoye, Viscount Mountgarret, Viscount Thurles, Earl of Carrick, Earl of Kilkenny, Earl of Ormond, Earl of Ossory, Marquess of Ormonde and Duke of Ormonde. Variant spellings of the name include le Boteler and le Botiller. The Butlers were descendants of Anglo-Norman lords who participated in the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century. The surname has its origins in the hereditary office of "Butler (cup-bearer) of Ireland", originating with Theobald Walter, 1st Chief Butler of Ireland. The arms of later family members depicted three cups in recognition of their original office.
Origin
The family descended from Theobald Walter (d. 1205), eldest son of Hervey Walter and Maud de Valoignes. During the reign of Henry II of England Theobald held the position of pincerna (Latin) or boteillier (Norman French), the ceremonial cup-bearer or butler to Prince John, Lord of Ireland. He also held the office of Chief Butler of England and was the High Sheriff of Lancashire during 1194.
His younger brother Hubert Walter (c.1160–1205) became the Archbishop of Canterbury and Justiciar and Lord Chancellor of England.
Butlers of Ormond
The Ormond line is the senior branch of the family and later produced the Earls, Marquesses and Dukes of Ormond.
Edmund Butler was created the first Earl of Carrick in 1315 in reward for his service during the Bruce campaign in Ireland. Although the earldom did not pass to his son James, the latter was created the first Earl of Ormond in 1328 by Edward III.
Subsidiary titles for the earl in the Peerage of Ireland were later added: Earl of Ossory (1538) and Viscount Thurles (1536). James Butler, 12th Earl of Ormond served as the commander of the Cavalier forces in Ireland and was made Marquess of Ormond in 1642, which title became extinct in 1758. He was made Duke of Ormonde in 1661, and with the title created in the Peerage of England in 1682; after 1682, the spelling "Ormonde" was used almost universally. Subsidiary titles for the duke in the Peerage of England were added: Earl of Brecknock (1660) and Baron Butler (1660).
James Fitzjames Butler succeeded his grandfather and became the second duke. Accused of treason during the Jacobite rising of 1715, he was attainted and his English peerages declared forfeit. In 1758 his brother Charles, the de jure third duke (Irish), died and the dukedom and marquessate became extinct.
The eighteenth earl, James Wandesford Butler, was created as Baron Ormonde of Llanthony, in the county of Monmouth in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1821 on the coronation of George IV. Later, he was created the Marquess of Ormonde in the Peerage of Ireland in 1816. On his death in 1820, that title became extinct and the earldoms passed to his brother, for whom the title "Marquess of Ormonde" was re-created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1825. That title became extinct in 1997, while the earldom became dormant.
Lands
The family seat, since 1391, was Kilkenny Castle;A History of St. Mary’s Church. Text by Imelda Kehoe. Published by the Gowran Development Association 1992 their main estate was previously at Gowran Castle.Webb. Alfred. "Butler, James, 3rd Earl of Ormond", A Compendium of Irish Biography, Dublin, M.H. Gill & Son, 1878 From Kilkenny, the Butlers claimed overlordship of the surrounding Gaelic kingdoms of Ormond, Éile, Ikerrin and part of Osraige.
The patrimony of the Butlers of Ormond encompassed most of the modern counties of Tipperary, Kilkenny and parts of County Carlow. Only the earldom of Desmond would have had more extensive land holdings than Ormond in the Lordship and Kingdom of Ireland. Following the successful Norman Invasion, the ancient Gaelic lands would have been annexed to the crown and passed as baronies or fiefs to the supporters of the crown (the victorious barons). These (administrative) baronies corresponded to the (Irish) túath ("country") or trícha cét ("thirty hundred [men]") of a Gaelic chief, for example Éile. However, sometimes baronies combined small territories, or split a large one, or were created without regard for the earlier boundaries. In the Norman period most Gaelic chiefs were killed, expelled, or subordinated by the new Norman lord; in the Tudor period, many Gaelic and Hibernicized lords retained their land by pledging allegiance to the Crown under the policy of surrender and regrant.
In 1837, the remains of the following Butler castles were recorded in County Kilkenny alone by Lewis.
Members of the Butler family continued to live in Kilkenny Castle until 1935.
Notable family members
Theobald Walter, 1st Chief Butler of Ireland (died 1206) married Maud de Vavasour; they had three children Theobald le Botiller, 2nd Chief Butler of Ireland (died 1230) married Joan de Marais Theobald Butler, 3rd Chief Butler of Ireland (1224–1248) married Margery de Burgh; they had four children Theobald Butler, 4th Chief Butler of Ireland (1242–1285) married Joan FitzJohn FitzGeoffrey; they had three children Edmund Butler, Earl of Carrick (1270–1321) married Joan FitzGerald, Countess of Carrick; they had two children James Butler, 1st Earl of Ormond (1305–1338) married Eleanor de Bohun; they had six children James Butler, 2nd Earl of Ormond (1331–1382) married Elizabeth Darcy; they had five children James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond (died 1405) married Anne Welles; they had five children James Butler, 4th Earl of Ormond (1392–1452) married Joan de Beauchamp; they had three children James Butler, 5th Earl of Ormond (1420–1461) John Butler, 6th Earl of Ormond (died 1478) Thomas Butler, 7th Earl of Ormond (1426–1515) married Anne Hankford Piers Butler, 8th Earl of Ormond (1467-1539)
Butlers of Dunboyne The Baron Dunboyne peerage originated with Thomas Butler, 1st Baron Dunboyne (1271–1329), the son of Theobald Butler, 4th Chief Butler of Ireland.
Notable family members Thomas Butler, 1st Baron Dunboyne (1271–1329) John Butler, 12th Baron Dunboyne (1731 – 7 May 1800)
Butlers of Clonamicklon and Ikerrin This branch sprang from John Butler of Clonamicklon (1305–1330), the youngest son of Edmund Butler, Earl of Carrick (1268–1321) and Joan FitzGerald, Countess of Carrick (1282–1320). He was the brother of James Butler, 1st Earl of Ormond (1305–1337). From this branch descended the Viscounts Ikerrin and the Earls of Carrick (of the second creation).
Notable family members Pierce Butler, 4th Viscount Ikerrin (1679–1711). He married twice. First to the Hon. Alicia Boyle then to Olivia St. George Thomas Butler, 6th Viscount Ikerrin (1683–1720). He married Margaret Hamilton. They had one child. He was born in Kilkenny, Ireland. Somerset Hamilton Butler, 1st Earl of Carrick (1718–1774). He married Lady Juliana Boyle. They had one child. The 8th Viscount was created Earl of Carrick – the second time that an earldom of that name was created for the Butler family. The first creation was for Edmund Butler, Earl of Carrick. Henry Butler, 2nd Earl of Carrick (1746–1813). He married Sarah Taylor. They had two children. He died in Kilkenny, Ireland. Somerset Butler, 3rd Earl of Carrick (1779–1838), brother of the Hon. Henry Edward Butler (1780–1856) he married twice and had five children Gina Fratini (Georgina Butler, 1931–2017), the English fashion designer, was the granddaughter of Charles Butler, 7th Earl of Carrick
Butlers of Cahir
This branch sprang from James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond (died 1405). The family seat, Cahir Castle, is built on an island in the River Suir. Much of the barony of Iffa and Offa West was controlled by the Butler Barons Cahir.
Notable family members Thomas Butler of Cahir (died 1476)
Barons of the first creation Thomas Butler, 1st Baron Cahir (died 1558), son of Thomas Butler of Cahir. His brother, Piers Butler of Cahir, would later supply future barons when his own line failed to produce any other male heirs upon the death of his own son. Edmund Butler, 2nd Baron Cahir (died 1560), son of the 1st baron. Died without issue.
Barons of the second creation Theobald Butler, 1st Baron Cahir (died 1596), son of Piers Butler and nephew of the 1st Baron of the first creation. Thomas Butler, 2nd Baron Cahir (died 1627), son of the 1st Baron. Died without a male heir. Thomas Butler, 3rd Baron Cahir, son of Piers Butler, cousin of the 1st Baron of the second creation and grandson of the 1st Baron of the first creation. Richard Butler, 10th Baron Caher was created Earl of Glengall (Peerage of Ireland) in 1816.
Butlers of Polestown and Roscrea This branch also sprang from the 3rd Earl. Three distinct branches are associated with this branch of the family. The family tree splits firstly with Edmund MacRichard Butler; his eldest son, Sir James, founded the most illustrious sub-branch with his progeny going on to supply the 8th Earl of Ormond; his second son, Walter, founded the lesser sub-branch with his progeny going on to become baronets of Polestown. This sub-branch split thirdly to found a Roscrea branch in the barony of Ikerrin, County Tipperary, beginning with Walter's grandson.
Note: "Polestown" is also spelled in the records as Poolestown". It is now identified with the town of Paulstown in Gowran, County Kilkenny.
Notable family members Sir Richard Butler of Polestown (1395–1443) Walter Butler of Polestown (died 1483) Sir Richard Butler (Poletown) (died 1619) Edmond Butler of Polestown (died 1636) Peter Butler of Roscrea Walter Butler of Roscrea
Butlers of Mountgarret, Cloughgrennan, Kilcash & Duiske
The common ancestor here is Piers Butler, 8th Earl of Ormond. Three minor family branches sprang from his eldest son – James; Cloughgrenan, Kilcash and Duiske / Galmoye, His younger son, Richard Butler, founded the junior but long lasting Mountgarret line.
Senior line – earls of Ormond, heirs of the 8th earl Mountgarret line – heirs of the second son of the 8th earl Cloughgrenan line – heirs of the second son of the 9th earl Kilcash and Thurles line – heirs of the third son of the 9th earl Garryricken line – heirs of the third son of the 11th earl Duiske and Galmoye line – heirs of the 10th earl
Butlers of Mountgarret Mountgarret may take its name from the townland of Tifeaghna (Mount Garret) in the civil parish of Sheefin, in the barony of Galmoy or from Clomantagh (Mount Garret) in the civil parish of Clomantagh in the County of Crannagh. Both baronies are in the northwestern corner of County Kilkenny. The Viscounts are recorded as significant landowners there (where they occupied lands around Clomantagh Castle for many centuries), as well as holding lands in the neighbouring civil parish of Coolcashin.Griffith's Primary Valuation, Tithe Applotment Books Year, 1825 It may also refer to a district of the town of New Ross in County Wexford. This branch was in turn an offshoot of the Polestown branch. In 1911 the 14th Viscount Mountgarret was created Baron Mountgarret of Nidd, West Riding, Yorkshire in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.
Notable family members
Richard Butler, 1st Viscount Mountgarret (1500–1571) Edmund Butler, 2nd Viscount Mountgarret (died 1602) Richard Butler, 3rd Viscount Mountgarret (1578–1651) Edmund Butler, 4th Viscount Mountgarret (1595–1679) Edmund Butler, 10th Viscount Mountgarret (died 1752) Edmund Butler, 11th Viscount Mountgarret (1745–1793) Edmund Butler, 1st Earl of Kilkenny (1771–1846) Henry Butler, 13th Viscount Mountgarret (1816–1900) Henry Butler, 14th Viscount Mountgarret (1844–1912) Edmund Butler, 15th Viscount Mountgarret (1875–1918) Piers Butler, 16th Viscount Mountgarret (1903–1957)