Theobald Walter 1st Chief Butler

Theobald Walter came to Ireland with Prince John in 1185 and was granted the hereditary office of Butler of Ireland, from which his descendants took the surname Butler and, in time, the earldoms of Ormond: every Butler of Kilkenny Castle begins here. His brother was Hubert Walter, Archbishop of Canterbury and Justiciar, the man who effectively governed England while Richard crusaded. Theobald died in 1205, founder of one of the two great Anglo-Irish dynasties - and this family descends from both.