Theobald Walter 1st Chief Butler
d. 1205
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Family
About
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.
Research notes
THEOBALD WALTER (FitzWalter), 1st Chief Butler of Ireland (c.1165-1205), founder of the Butler house; brother of Hubert Walter Archbishop of Canterbury; father of the 2nd Chief Butler (our line). Standard documented Anglo-Norman/Irish genealogy per the cited authorities; contested rungs note-only, not hardened. ||CP AUDIT 26 Oct 2026|| ✓ CP II 'Butler' pp.447-8: Theobald Walter, s. and h. of Hervey Walter of West Dereham by Maud de Valoignes; accompanied John, Count of Mortain, to Ireland 1185; fief of Arklow before 1189; Butler [I.] in or before May 1192; prisage of wines; Amounderness and Preston 1194; Sheriff of Lancashire 1194-9; founder of Cockersand, Nenagh (1200), Wotheny (1205) and Arklow; 'He m., in or shortly before 1200, Maud, da. and h. of Robert le Vavasour with whom he acquired the manors of Edlington, Newborough, etc., co. York. He d. between 4 Aug. 1205 and 14 Feb. 1205/6, and was bur. at Wotheny Abbey.' His widow m. 1207 Fulk FitzWarin. Source: Complete Peerage 2nd edn vol. II (1912), 'Butler' pp.447-449 (archive.org completepeerageo02coka), read 26 Oct 2026.