Botwright is an English surname that functions primarily as a variant of Boatwright. The name Boatwright is an occupational surname meaning "maker of boats," referring to a shipwright or builder of small watercraft. The evolution from Boatwright to Botwright likely arose through regional pronunciation and spelling variations typical of early modern English surnames. Notable Bearers Two prominent bearers of the Botwright surname are English squash players, mother and daughter Vicky and Rebecca Botwright. Vicky Botwright (born 1977) was a top-20 ranked player on the Women's Squash Association tour during the 1990s and 2000s, winning multiple titles. She later became a coach and was named England Squash Coach of the Year in 2012. Rebecca Botwright (born 1982), her daughter, also competed professionally, earning a career-high ranking of World No. 34 in 2008 and reaching the quarterfinals of the World Open in 2006. Etymology and History The core root element of both Botwright and Boatwright is the English agent suffix -wright, which attached to a trade or craft (compare wheelwright, shipwright). thus the name literally described someone who constructed boats. While other similar surnames (like Boatman or Boatswain) might derive from duties aboard ships, the -wright suffix firmly situates Botwright among a class of surnames that identified the bearer by his manual occupation in an era before fixed spelling rules standardized such names. Meaning: Variant of Boatwright, an occupational name for a boat builder Origin: English Type: Occupational surname Usage regions: Primarily England, also found in countries with English diaspora