German: 1. (mainly Switzerland) from a derivative of Butzo, a pet form of the personal name Burkhard (see Burkhart). 2. (Bütz(e)): topographic name for someone who lived near a well, from Middle High German bütze ‘well’, ‘puddle’ (from Latin puteus). 3. South German: nickname from Middle High German butze denoting something small: an apple core, a small piece of something left over, a small person, a poltergeist.