Show ContentsBartholemew History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Bartholemew family

The surname Bartholemew 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 Bartholemew family

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

Bartholemew Spelling Variations

Although the name, Bartholemew, appeared in many references, from time to time, the surname was shown with the spellings Bartholomew, Bartholemewe, Bartholemew and many more.

Early Notables of the Bartholemew family

Another 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bartholemew Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Bartholemew 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 cholera, typhoid, dysentery or small pox. In North America, some of the first immigrants who could be considered kinsmen of the Bartholemew family name Bartholemew, or who bore a variation of the surname were

Bartholemew Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Bartholemew, who landed in Salem, Massachusetts in 1635 2
Bartholemew Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Charles Bartholemew, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 2

New Zealand Bartholemew 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:

Bartholemew Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Arthur Bartholemew, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "New Great Britain" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 10th August 1863 3


The Bartholemew 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.


  1. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  2. 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)
  3. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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