A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Butterworth family of England.
Reg. 9745 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Sa. a cross engr. betw. four plumbs ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Butterworth Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Butterworth arms are recorded
The Butterworth arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Butterworth arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Butterworth Family in England
The surname Butterworth originates from the historic county of Lancashire in Northern England. It is a locational name that refers to a specific place called Butterworth, which was once a township located near the town of Rochdale. The name itself is derived from Old English words meaning a clearing or farmstead belonging to a person named Buter. By the early 17th century, members of the family had begun to spread across Northern England, with records confirming their presence in York by 1620. During this period, the family was part of the growing movement of English citizens who were establishing roots in major regional hubs. Their transition from rural settlements to urban centers like York reflects the broader social changes occurring in England as families sought new opportunities in trade and local governance.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Buterworth
An enclosure or homestead belonging to a person named Buter.
This name
ButterworthDerived from an Old English habitational name referring to a farmstead located near a butter-producing dairy.
also spelled
Butterwirth
Butterwarth
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Ekwall, Eilert, The Place-Names of Lancashire, 1922
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
