Surname Butte - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Butte: What does the surname Butte mean?
The surname Butte has multiple possible origins. It may well have evolved from the Old French term "butte", referring to a target for archery shooting; it could have been a name given to individuals known for their archery skills or running an archery range. Butte may also have geographical connotations, deriving from the term for a small, isolated hill with steep sides and a flat top, similar to the English term "butte" commonly used to describe such landscapes in the Western United States. The term was used in medieval France to denote a plot of land. Therefore, the name Butte could have been applied to individuals living near or on such a plot. The exact origin can vary based on individual family history and lineage. However, like many surnames, it likely started as a descriptive term or occupational title, helping to distinguish individuals in communities where many people shared the same first name.
Order DNA origin analysisButte: Where does the name Butte come from?
The surname Butte is of French origin. It is derived from the Old French word 'butte', referring to a target for archery, and was likely bestowed as a nickname for marksmen or archers. Over the centuries, the surname spread to other parts of the world, notably through migration. Variations of the name can be found depending on the country and its language. However, people with the surname Butte can typically trace their ancestral roots back to France.
Today, the surname Butte can be found in several countries including the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe. In the United States, it is predominantly observed in states such as California, Illinois, and New York. Regardless, it remains a less common surname overall. In France, Belgium, and other French-speaking territories, it persists to be quite common given its historical and linguistic roots. The distribution of the Butte surname globally remains dispersed and rather infrequent, contributing to the unique significance of the surname.
Variations of the surname Butte
The surname Butte, occasionally found in France and likely of Norman origin, has various variants and similar spellings, which include Butt, Butts, But, Bute, and Buteau.
In terms of related surnames, it is possible that it may be connected to the surname Button, given that in Old French, the term "bute" refers to "a goal" and in several instances, was used as a nickname for an ambitious person, much like the word "button" was used to denote a maker of buttons or someone small and round.
Surnames like Buttel, Buttle, Butner, Buttner, and Buttler could possibly be of the same origin due to their phonetic similarity, particularly if there was a transcription error in historical documents. Some may also stem from the French surname "Buteux", which refers to a wine-grower.
Particularly in the United States and other English-speaking countries, names with similar phonetics but different spelling could include Bute, Butte, Butt, and Boute. However, it should be noted that the origin of all these names could differ based on regional and cultural influences, as well as individual family histories.
Famous people with the name Butte
- Scott Butte: An American Actor who played the lead role in Netflix's Dead to Me.
- John Butler: An Australian singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.
- Bill Butte: An American baseball player who pitched for the St. Louis Browns in 1922.
- Alonzo M. Butte: A former justice of the California Supreme Court (1970-1975).
- Dorothy Butte: An American archeologist who led an excavation of Mount Zion in Jerusalem.
- Coreen Butte: A Canadian painter and textile artist from the West Coast.
- Andrew Butte: A Los Angeles based composer of film and television, and the film music conservatory professor at Bard College in New York.
- James Butte: An American football player who played left guard for the Washington Redskins from 1929-1933.
- George Butte: A British author and journalist, best known for writing his dispatches from the Spanish Civil War.
- Tony Butte: A Canadian singer-songwriter and actor, best known for his work in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the band Treble Charger.