Origin of le Boteler - Pincerna is the Latin equivalent. www.butler-soc.org "BUTLER is an occupational name, but it used to have a slightly different meaning. In large medieval households the Butler was the person in charge of the wine. Since many powerful nobles lived in fear of being poisoned, this was a position of considerable trust. There used to be many variations in spelling, such as Boteler, Boutillier, Botiller, Butiller, and Botyller. Modern variations include Boutler (France), Buttlar (Germany) and Buteler (Argentina)."

Barons Boteler, of Oversley and Wemme

[Note: dates for the earlier generations are approximate only]

1. Ralph le Boteler (c.1074 - c.1140) 1st Baron Boteler of Oversley and Wemme, called "Radulphus Pincerna de Legrecestria" was the butler to Robert, Earl of Leicester. He settled at Oversley, County Warwick during the reign of Henry I. He erected a strong castle there and a mile distant founded a monastery for Benedictine monks (1140). He died after 1140. He was the first Baron Boteler, of Oversley and Wemme.
2. his son and heir was Robert le Boteler (c.1100 - 1169), living in 1225
3. his son and heir Ralph le Boteler (1143 - 1227)
4. his son and heir Maurice le Boteler (c.1185 - 1237), living 1245
5. his son and heir Ralph le Boteler (c.1240 - 1283), died before 1277
6. his son and heir William le Boteler (1245 - 1283), died 1283
7. his son and heir John le Boteler (1266 - 1287) died 1286
8. his brother and heir Gawine le Boteler (1270 - 1290), died 1289
9. his brother and heir William le Boteler (1274 - 1335), 1st Baron Boteler of Wemme, died 1334
10. his son and heir William le Boteler (c.1296 - c.1361) 2nd Baron Boteler of Wemme, died 1361
11. his son and heir William le Boteler (1295 - 1369) 3rd Baron Boteler of Wemme , died 1369
12. his daughter and heiress Elizabeth le Boteler, Baroness Boteler of Wemme

Barons Boteler of Sudley

1. Thomas le Boteler, or his grandson John, were ever summoned to Parliament.
2. Ralph le Boteler, brother and heir of John le Boteler last mentioned and grandson of William le Boteler, Baron Boteler of Sudley, created Patent Baron Sudley.

Sudeley Castle was established prior to 1066 and is recorded in the Domesday Book. A complete chronological list of the owners of the castle can be found on the official website of Sudeley Castle. King Ethelred (The Unready) (c. 968 – 23 April 1016) gave the manor and estate to his daughter Goda on her marriage to Walter de Maunt. Their grandson, Harold, held the manor Sudeley during the Norman conquest. The Boteler family inherited the manor and estate through the sister of the 9th Lord Sudeley who died while fighting in Spain alongside Edward, the Black Prince. In 1442, Ralph Boteler who was created Baron Sudeley by Henry VI of England, built the actual castle on its present site using what he had earned fighting in the Hundred Years' War. He built up quarters for servants and men at arms on the double courtyard that was surrounded by a moat. He also added state and family apartments on the second courtyard. The Chapel, which would become St. Mary's, and the Tithe Barn were also built under Boteler. In 1469, Edward IV of England confiscated the castle from its owner, Ralph Boteler, 1st Baron Sudeley and gave it to his brother, the Duke of Gloucester, who later became Richard III of England.