Show ContentsBartleet History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Bartleet is a name that came to England in the 11th century wave of migration that was set off by the Norman Conquest of 1066. Bartleet comes from the personal name Bartholomew, and in its altered form is a baptismal name meaning Bartholomew. As the naming tradition grew in Europe baptismal names began to be introduced in many countries. Baptismal names were sometimes given in honor of Christian saints and other biblical figures. There are very few Christian countries in Europe that did not adopt surnames from these religious figures.

Early Origins of the Bartleet family

The surname Bartleet was first found in Sussex, where "the head of this family, according to Dallaway, may be considered one of the most ancient proprietors of land residing upon this estate in this county. The first in the pedigree is Adam de Bartelott, said to be of Norman origin, father of John, who married Joan Stopham, coheiress of lands in the manor from whence the name is derived." 1

Another reference claim "the Barttelots of Stopham have a tradition that they came into England at the Conquest, and settled at a place called La Ford, in that parish, in which they still reside." 2

In Norfolk, Godricus Bertelot was recorded c. 1157 and later the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex recorded Walter Bertelot in 1296. Thomas Bartelot was listed in the Feet of Fines for Cambridgeshire in 1294 and in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327. 3

The church of Stopham contains a long series of the family's monuments. "The church is partly in the early and partly in the decorated English style, with a square tower; the pavement is almost entirely composed of large slabs of Sussex marble, inlaid with brass figures and memorials of the Barttelot family, and in the windows are representations of some of the Barttelots and Stophams in stained glass, said to have been removed from the ball windows of the old manor-house." 4

"The variants were numerous. It is quite evident that Bartlet or Bartlot was the popular nick, for this then favourite Apostolic name." For this reason, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 attempts to show the various spellings: Bartelot (without surname), Bedfordshire; Thomas Bartholot, Cambridgeshire; William Bartolot, Oxfordshire; Bartelot Govi, Huntingdonshire; Alan Bartelet, Cambridgeshire; and Richard Bartelot, Oxfordshire. 5

To the north in Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Thomas Bartlot; and Robertus Bartlot. 5

Early History of the Bartleet family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bartleet research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1069, 1471, 1501, 1557, 1566, 1662, 1682 and 1944 are included under the topic Early Bartleet History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bartleet Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Bartleet include Bartlett, Bartlet, Bartlette, Bartolet, Bartelot and many more.

Early Notables of the Bartleet family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Barthlet or Bartlett (fl. 1566), an English theological writer. John Bartlet (fl. 1662), was an English nonconformist divine, educated at the University of Cambridge and William Bartlet (died 1682), was an English independent minister, educated at New Inn Hall, Oxford. 6Richard Bartlot (1471-1557), was an English physician, Fellow of All Souls' College, and took the degree...
Another 65 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bartleet Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Bartleet migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Bartleets to arrive on North American shores:

Bartleet Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Hugh Gordon Bartleet, aged 21, originally from Redditch, England, arrived in New York in 1913 aboard the ship "Lusitania" from Liverpool, England 7
  • Mabel Jessie Bartleet, aged 36, originally from London, England, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Olympic" from Southampton, England 7
  • George Bartleet, aged 55, arrived in New York in 1923 aboard the ship "Olympic" from Southampton, England 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Bartleet (post 1700) +

  • David Henry Bartleet (1929-2002), English Anglican bishop, Bishop of Tonbridge (1982-1993)
  • The Venerable Edwin Berry Bartleet D.D. (1872-1946), English Anglican priest, Archdeacon of Ludlow (1928-1932)
  • Sydney Francis Bartleet (1879-1927), English architect who was taken into the partnership in 1891 with his father W. Gibbs Bartleet
  • W. Gibbs Bartleet (1829-1906), English Victorian architect from Handsworth, Birmingham, known for his work on the rebuilding of St. George's Church, Beckenham (1885-1887)
  • Wilton Bartleet, British founder of the Bartleet Group in 1904


  1. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  7. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result


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