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Fine Print & Disclaimers Photos:
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This site is now hosted by the United States Genealogy Network Inc., or USGenNet. USGenNet provides free genealogical and historical information to the world. While this is free to the viewer it cost money to keep the site on the web. These funds are raised though tax-deductible contributions. Visit "The Time Is Now" for the needs of the site and how to contribute. If you can donate a hundred dollars that would be great, however every single dollar helps. Consider sending a "Buck" each time you visit the site.
This site was born on October 13, 1999. It is an idea that originated on the Butterfield GenForum. I hope to have everyone that is interested in the Butterfield name contributes to it. If you have a web page or know of one that has Butterfield genealogy on it please send me the URL at the address below. If you have Butterfield information and do not have a web page please send me a text file like the ones listed on the Family Page. Please read the Fine Print & Disclaimer Page for information on what to include in your file. The common spelling of the name in New England is Butterfield, and the same prevails usually throughout the United States: though instances are found of Botefield, of the direct German extraction: and, occasionally, of Boterville, the French form. In England, the family date their arrival from Narmandy in the twelfth century. Robert de Buteville held two fees in Bedfordshire in 1165 and likewise in Norfold (Liber Niger). John de Buteville was possessed of the lord of Cheddington, in Bucks, in 1316 (Palsgrave, Parl, Writs). The name Botevyle occurs in the Battle Abbey roll. The estate of Bouteville was near Carentum, in Normandy, a town at the mouth of the river Tante, where are yet to be seen old fortifications, a castle and a curious Norman church (The Norman People). A branch of the family settled at Church, Stretton, Shropshire. The English pronunciation indicates a corruption of the German word Botefeld (Bote, a messenger, and feld, field, or clearing where the trees have been felled). Similar instances occur in Butterley, Buttermere, Butterwick, Butterworth in England, and perhaps Buterville in Ireland: the affix in each case denoting locality-ley meadow, mere pond, wick bay, worth enclosure-where the messenger dwelt. Or, the derivation may be from botfeld, which, among the Anglo-Saxons, was that portion of the manor, the timber of which was reserved for the repairs of the manor house, buildings, &c., and the mending of the fences. Such privileges were styled Haybote (from hait, hedge, or the land enclosed by it, and bote, repair). The official charge with such repairs was styled the Hayward, whence the modern word: as also Heyward and Howard. Our word botcher, for a blundering repairer, is a survival of this same bote in common speech.
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