This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Butterworth family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Butterworth Family History

Butterworth Surname Meaning

English: from Butterworth in Lancashire (near Rochdale). Named with Old English butere ‘butter’ + worth ‘enclosure’.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Butterworth family from?

You can see how Butterworth families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Butterworth family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Butterworth families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 7,742 Butterworth families living in Lancashire. This was about 73% of all the recorded Butterworth's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Butterworth families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Butterworth surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Butterworth ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Butterworth. 6% of Butterworth men worked as a General Labourer and 62% of Butterworth women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Butterworth were Motor Driver and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Butterworth | 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

  • General Labourer
    6%
  • Cotton Weaver
    4%
  • Insurance Agent
    3%
  • Motor Driver
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    62%
  • Cotton Weaver
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Butterworth family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 165,000 census records available for the last name Butterworth. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Butterworth census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Butterworth

Passenger Lists

There are 16,000 immigration records available for the last name Butterworth. 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 Butterworth immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 12,000 military records available for the last name Butterworth. For the veterans among your Butterworth ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Butterworth military records

You've only scratched the surface of Butterworth family history

Discover More

What is the average Butterworth lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Butterworth life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Butterworth in 1943 was 35, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Butterworth

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Butterworth 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 Butterworth family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial