Gerard Butler
Butler in 2011, DFree / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Gerard James Butler
Place of Birth: Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Date of Birth: 13 November, 1969
Ethnicity: Irish, possibly Scottish
Gerard Butler is a Scottish actor. He has starred in the films Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, 300, The Bounty Hunter, and Olympus Has Fallen, among many others.
Gerard was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. He was raised Catholic. He is either of entirely or partially Irish ancestry. It is not clear if he is also of Scottish descent. His mother’s maiden name is Hanton, which can be Scottish or Irish. Gerard has said that he is “a little Scots boy whose whole family are Irish. They really are – my family is from all over Ireland.”
Gerard’s family moved to Montréal, Québec, Canada, when he was several months old. He returned with his mother to Scotland not long after, and was raised there. Gerard is related to writer and director Mike Flood.
Gerard’s paternal grandfather was Johnny Butler (the son of Edward Butler and Mary Brennan). Edward and Mary were from Myshall, County Carlow, Ireland.
Gerard’s maternal grandfather was named James Hanton. James was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland.
Gerard’s maternal grandmother was named Mary/May Flood. May was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland. The Flood family was from County Wicklow, Ireland.
Sources: Some of Gerard’s family history – http://groups.yahoo.com
Genealogy of Gerard Butler (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Most of the best looking and talented Scots have an Irish background for some reason.
I don’t know what you mean by talented. Talented at what? Maybe there is some truth in that in terms of acting (mainly because Scottish people generally don’t go in for “showy” jobs) but not in Scottish society in general. Quite the opposite.
lol@ the curly perm.
Wow he goes from a Irish talking Spartan king, to a Irish talking Egyptian God. That’s quite a step up
He looks very Greek and Ancient Egyptian.
(obvious sarcasm)
I’m sure there were Greeks who looked like him. It wouldn’t be too unusual.
I mean with his natural appearance he doesn’t look too Greek, although I guess he didn’t look odd in 300.
He must have English heritage too (although most Scots and Irish don’t like to admit it!!) as Butler is an Old English surname.
It’s actually a Norman name. I’ve even got it in my family tree.
butler is a norman surname which can be english, french or german
Butler is very common in Ireland. I’ve got a great grandmother who was a Butler and the Butler side of Gerard’s family came from Ireland. It is very much a part of Irish history.
https://www.houseofnames.com/Butler-family-crest