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Butson Family History

Butson Surname Meaning

English (Devon and Cornwall): habitational name from Butson's Farm in Kentisbeare, Devon, recorded as Botuston c. 1200 and named from its owner Radulfus Boty or Buty.

It combines the personal name with Old English tūn, meaning 'manor' or 'estate'.

The name reflects the historical significance of landowners in the region and their influence on place names.

Such habitational names are common in English surnames and often provide insight into local history.

Understanding the origins of names like Butson can enrich our knowledge of Devon and Cornwall's cultural heritage.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Butson family from?

You can see how Butson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Butson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Butson families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 46 Butson families living in Yorkshire. This was about 16% of all the recorded Butson's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Butson families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Butson surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Butson ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Colliery Hewer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Butson. 43% of Butson men worked as a Colliery Hewer and 78% of Butson women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Butson were Underground Coal Hewer and Domestic Worker.

View Census Data for Butson | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Colliery Hewer
    43%
  • Carpenter joiner
    29%
  • Underground Coal Hewer
    29%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    78%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Domestic Worker
    3%

What Butson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 12,000 census records available for the last name Butson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Butson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Butson

Passenger Lists

There are 879 immigration records available for the last name Butson. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Butson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 748 military records available for the last name Butson. For the veterans among your Butson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Butson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Butson family history

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What is the average Butson lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Butson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1994, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Butson in 1963 was 80, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Butson

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Butson ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Butson family tree

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