Show ContentsBartholomew History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Bartholomew family

The surname Bartholomew was first found in Berwickshire, in Scotland, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Bartholomew (d. 1184), was Bishop of Exeter and a native of Brittany. "He was for some time archdeacon of Exeter. His appointment to the bishopric was due to the influence of Archbishop Theobald, who shortly before his death wrote a most urgent letter recommending him to the notice of Henry II and his chancellor, Becket (1161). " 1

Saint Bartholomew (d. 1193), was a Northumbrian hermit of some celebrity, who flourished in the twelfth century. "His life was most probably written by Galfrid, the author of the biography of St. Godric, and a monk of Bartholomew's own monastery of St. Mary at Durham. In any case, it professes to be written in the lifetime of the saint's contemporaries. According to this life, Bartholomew was born at Witeb or Whitby. His real name, we are told, was Tostius (Tostig?), which his parents changed to William to avoid the laughter of his playmates. " 1

Early History of the Bartholomew family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bartholomew research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1793 and 1867 are included under the topic Early Bartholomew History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bartholomew Spelling Variations

During the era when a person's name, tribe and posterity was one of his most important possessions, many different spellings were found in the archives examined. Bartholomew occurred in many references, and spelling variations of the name found included Bartholomew, Bartholemewe, Bartholemew and many more.

Early Notables of the Bartholomew family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

  • William Bartholomew, born in London 1793

Bartholomew Ranking

In the United States, the name Bartholomew is the 2,405th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 2


Bartholomew migration to the United States +

Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of illness and the elements, were buried at sea. In North America, early immigrants bearing the family name Bartholomew, or a spelling variation of the surname include:

Bartholomew Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mrs. Mary Bartholomew from London, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1634 aboard the ship "Griffin"
  • William Bartholomew, from London, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1634 aboard the ship "Griffin" 3
  • Henry Bartholomew, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1635 3
  • Richard Bartholomew, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1637 3
  • Hen Bartholomew, who landed in Virginia in 1643 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Bartholomew Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johan Bartholomew, who landed in Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1730 3
  • John Bartholomew, who arrived in Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1730 3
  • Christina Bartholomew, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1733 3
  • Mathias Bartholomew, aged 20, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1738 3
  • Matthias Bartholomew, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Bartholomew Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Henry Bartholomew, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1822 3
  • Mrs. Bartholomew, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 3
  • William Bartholomew, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1873 3
  • W H T Bartholomew, who landed in Texas in 1876 3

Bartholomew migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bartholomew Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Robert Bartholomew U.E. who arrived in Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 169 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York 4

Bartholomew migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Bartholomew Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Bartholomew, English convict who was convicted in Kent, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
  • Mr. Joseph Bartholomew, English convict who was convicted in Kent, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
  • Mr. Charles Bartholomew, (b. 1808), aged 22, English coach builder who was convicted in London, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Florentia" on 11th August 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
  • Mr. Benjamin Bartholomew, English convict who was convicted in Southampton, Hampshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 2nd November 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
  • Mr. James Bartholomew, (b. 1820), aged 17, English convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 2nd November 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bartholomew migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Bartholomew Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • James Bartholomew, aged 30, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Waikato" in 1874
  • Emma Bartholomew, aged 29, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Waikato" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Bartholomew (post 1700) +

  • Mel Bartholomew (1932-2016), American gardener and author, creator of square foot gardening
  • Reginald Bartholomew (1936-2012), American diplomat, United States Ambassador to Lebanon (1983-1986), to Spain (1986-1989) and to Italy (1993-1997)
  • Summer Robin Bartholomew (b. 1951), American model and actress, winner of the 1975 Miss USA pageant
  • Dave Bartholomew (b. 1920), American musician, band leader, composer and arranger
  • Freddie Bartholomew (1924-1992), English-born, American child actor, known for his starring roles in Captains Courageous (1937) and Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936)
  • Frank Bartholomew (1899-1985), American Journalist
  • Forrest L. Bartholomew, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1956 8
  • Edward M. Bartholomew, American Republican politician, Mayor of Glens Falls, New York, 1978-85 8
  • Daniel Bartholomew, American politician, Postmaster at Aurora, Indiana, 1833-39, 1841-45 8
  • Clifford S. Bartholomew, American politician, Mayor of Allentown, Pennsylvania, 1970-74 8
  • ... (Another 28 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Arthur W Bartholomew, British Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 9


The Bartholomew Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ad alta
Motto Translation: To high things.


Suggested Readings for the name Bartholomew +

  • Record of the Bartholomew Family: Historical, Genealogical, Biographical by George Wells Bartholomew.

  1. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/florentia
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th March 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  9. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html


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