YourRoots by Genomelink
Sign up free
banner

Sign up to explore more

Create a free account to navigate family trees, view ancestors, and discover connections.

Sign up free
Advanced Search Options

Butts Family Genealogy & History

Discover the Global Legacy of the Butts Surname

The surname Butts is believed to have English origins, potentially derived from a topographical term referring to a strip of land or a buttress. In family history contexts, Butts has been a long-standing name that may also have connections to the Old French word "but," meaning target or goal, indicating a possible link to archery or military roles in medieval times.

Over the centuries, the Butts surname has seen a diverse spread across various regions, notably in the United States and the United Kingdom. Notable individuals bearing the name include Calvin O. Butts, a prominent pastor in New York, and Mary Butts, a British modernist writer, highlighting the cultural and geographical dispersion of the Butts family tree. The surname has been associated with various professions and achievements, from poetry and literature to sports and politics.

YourRoots data confirms the enduring presence of the Butts surname in English-speaking countries since the medieval period. The dataset reveals that the name has maintained its prominence across different epochs, aligning with the historical spread and cultural significance noted in Butts genealogy records. This consistency highlights the surname's deep-rooted history and its evolution through time, enriching the narrative of the Butts family lineage.

For family-tree researchers, the YourRoots data provides a valuable resource for tracing the Butts genealogy, connecting historical records with contemporary insights. By examining the evolution and spread of the Butts surname, genealogists can uncover a wealth of information that paints a comprehensive picture of this enduring family name.

← START A NEW SEARCH

Find the Butts Family Tree

Search more Butts trees & genealogy records

Records

Search more trees & records for
Butts for free

SIGNUP

Tracing Your Butts Family Lineage

Currently, YourRoots Map does not yet have enough verified historical and migration data to provide a detailed analysis of the Butts surname. However, we’re continuously expanding our global database using family trees, historical records, and DNA-based connections contributed by our growing community of researchers.

As more data becomes available, this page will be updated to include an in-depth look at the [SURNAME] family’s regional origins, early historical records, and migration patterns across centuries.

Famous People with Butts (and Their Family Tree)

Seymore Butts

Seymore Butts

Adam Glasser, known professionally as Seymore Butts, is a prominent figure in the adult film industry, celebrated for his significant contributions as a director, producer, and occasional performer in the gonzo genre of pornography. Born on March 18, 1964, he founded Seymore, Inc. and achieved recognition with the Seymore Butts series, winning "Best Gonzo Series" at the 1999 and 2000 AVN Awards. The focus of the Showtime reality series "Family Business," Glasser's career also includes a notable obscenity court case, highlighting his advocacy for freedom of speech. His work extends to educational realms with "Do-It-Yourself Porn," and he has garnered a nomination for the 2013 XBIZ Award for "Director of the Year – Non-Feature Release."

Adam Glasser was born to Jewish parents in the Bronx, New York City. His family life, including his close relationship with his mother, Lila Glasser, and cousin Stevie Glasser, was featured in the reality TV series "Family Business," showcasing their involvement in the adult film industry. This series provided a glimpse into his personal life, emphasizing his role as a single father and the family's collective efforts in managing the Seymore Butts brand.

Gerald Butts

Gerald Butts

Gerald Michael Butts is a prominent Canadian executive known for his influential roles in politics and environmental advocacy. Serving as the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from 2015 to 2019, Butts was instrumental in shaping the Liberal Party platform that led to their 2015 electoral victory. He has also held significant positions such as the vice chairman at Eurasia Group and CEO of World Wildlife Fund Canada. Butts' career is marked by his strategic policy advising, particularly in environmental initiatives and political campaigns, making him a key figure in Canadian politics.

Born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Gerald Butts is the son of Charles William "Charlie" Butts, a coal miner, and Rita Monica (Yorke) Butts, a nurse of Ukrainian and Polish descent. Raised in a family with three older brothers and one sister, Butts' family background reflects a rich cultural heritage and working-class roots.

Alfred Mosher Butts

Alfred Mosher Butts

Alfred Mosher Butts, an American architect and the ingenious inventor of the iconic board game Scrabble, was born on April 13, 1899, in Poughkeepsie, New York. During the Great Depression, Butts combined his passion for words and design to create a game that blended chance and skill, originally called Lexiko. Scrabble, as it was later named, became a worldwide sensation, with over 150 million sets sold by 2009. Known for its strategic gameplay and educational value, Scrabble has been a staple in households since its inception. Butts's unique approach to analyzing letter frequency set the foundation for the game's enduring popularity.

Alfred Mosher Butts was the son of Allison Butts, a lawyer, and Arrie Elizabeth Mosher, a high school teacher. His upbringing in Poughkeepsie under the guidance of educated parents likely influenced his analytical skills and creative pursuits. He was married to his wife, Nina, for 54 years, although they had no children.

Calvin O. Butts

Calvin O. Butts

Calvin Otis Butts III was a distinguished American academic administrator and senior pastor at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York City. Renowned for his leadership, he spearheaded the Abyssinian Development Corporation, revitalizing Harlem through community projects and affordable housing. Butts also served as president of the State University of New York College at Old Westbury from 1999 to 2020, receiving numerous honorary degrees for his contributions to education and community development. His weekly sermons were broadcast on KISS-FM, and he played a significant role in supporting AIDS patients and families through the Harlem Week of Prayer.

Calvin Butts III was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Calvin Otis Butts II, a cook and butcher, and Eloise (Edwards), a supervisor for the NYC welfare department. Raised in Queens, he spent his summers in rural Georgia with his grandmothers, which contributed to his formative experiences. Married to Patricia Reed Butts, with whom he had three children and six grandchildren, Butts left a rich family legacy upon his passing in 2022.

Mr. Butts

Mr. Butts

Mr. Butts is a fictional character from Garry Trudeau's Doonesbury comic strip, serving as an anthropomorphic personification of the tobacco industry. This eight-foot-tall cigarette with a goofy smile began as a hallucination during Mike Doonesbury's moral crisis over creating a teenage smoking ad campaign. Known for his naïve personality, Mr. Butts comically downplays the harmful effects of smoking. He has appeared in various settings, including testifying before Congress and in animated anti-smoking commercials. His character highlights issues related to nicotine addiction and the influence of the tobacco industry.

Butts Surname Meaning, Origin, and History

The surname "Butts" is associated with a variety of notable individuals across different fields, including sports, politics, literature, and the arts. It has historical ties to both British and American figures, such as Thomas Butts, a British civil servant and patron of William Blake, and Calvin O. Butts, a prominent American pastor. The name encompasses a diverse range of professions and achievements, highlighting its widespread presence and influence.

VIEW MORE

Where to Find Genealogy Records for Butts

We’ve analyzed YourRoots tree and records data to uncover where genealogists are finding key sources such as census, birth certificates, marriage records, and obituaries for the Butts family. Explore our most popular genealogy record sources for the Butts surname to learn more.

VIEW MORE

About YourRoots

Family Tree Map

Explore your family tree geographically

Import your GEDCOM file to transform your family tree into an interactive global map. See your roots laid out visually and understand your true geographic heritage.

Powerful tools like "Trace Back To Me" instantly map your family's migration paths from a chosen ancestor all the way back to you.

LEARN MORE
AI Genealogy Research

Discover ancestors beyond "end-of-line" automatically

Import your family tree and let AI expand it for you. AI Ancestor Finder scans "end-of-line" ancestors to uncover their parents across hundreds of family lines at once. AI Deep Research analyzes selected ancestors and family clusters, suggesting relevant records and next steps.

Turn on Auto Research Mode to get new discoveries daily or weekly, so your tree keeps growing even while you're away.

LEARN MORE
DNA Match

Find more DNA matches across all DNA tests

Combine your DNA data with your family tree to unlock the full power of YourRoots DNA Match. Connect with relatives across major testing services — Ancestry, 23andMe, MyHeritage, and more.

View your matches' maps and trees to identify shared ancestors, and soon you'll be able to add them directly to your own tree and map.

LEARN MORE
Ancestry Reports

Ancestry DNA analysis that goes deeper than others

Unlock exclusive reports that reveal your deeper origins.

  • Deep Ancestry Report — Analyze 130+ ethnicities, sub-regions, and 1,800+ communities in one detailed view.
  • Global & Native American Reports — Developed with Stanford researchers to uncover hidden ancestries across all 22 chromosomes.
  • Ancient DNA Series — Compare your DNA with 1,000+ ancient genomes from Viking, Celtic, and early American civilizations.
LEARN MORE