Surname Bartholomaeus - Meaning and Origin
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Bartholomaeus: What does the surname Bartholomaeus mean?
The last name Bartholomaeus is of Germanic origin and has a variety of potential meanings, the most common being “son of Talmai,” where Talmai is the Hebrew name for the father of the apostle Bartholomew. It can also be interpreted to mean “son of thorough-going strength,” with a more literal translation “son of the noble one of many accomplishments.”
The Bartholomaeus surname likely originated from darker, more medieval times; the name likely finds its roots in German crusader knights who fought in the first crusade. The Bartholomaeus family likely descended from a father known as “Talmai,” a noble knight or leader in Germanic culture who was accomplished in battle, and his son “bartholomaeus,” taking up the mantle of their father’s name.
Today, the Bartholomaeus surname is most commonly found in Germany, Austria and Switzerland; however, the name is also widely distributed across other parts of the world, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and parts of South America.
People with the Bartholomaeus surname likely have histories of strong leadership, tenacity and bravery. Through the heritage of their ancestors, they have the potential to have courage in the face of adversity or hardship and embodies a strength of character that can guide them through life’s challenges.
Order DNA origin analysisBartholomaeus: Where does the name Bartholomaeus come from?
The last name Bartholomaeus is most commonly found in Europe, particularly among German-speaking countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein. It is also a popular surname in the United States, with origins tracing back to immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe.
The name Bartholomaeus has Middle High German roots, originating as a patronymic form of the name Bartholomäus, meaning ‘son of Bartholomew’. This name was derived from the Hebrew name Bār-Tölmay which, in turn, derived from the words ‘bar’ and ‘Tölmay’, the latter meaning ‘furrow’. This likely referred to the passage of a furrow plow through the ground, suggesting a biblical story in which Bartholomew is depicted as an agriculturist.
The language of origin for the name Bartholomaeus have changed throughout the years. Over time, it has been found as Bartholomäus (early medieval German), Bartholomä (modern German), BARTLEMA (Swiss-German), Bartholomay (Liechtenstein German) and Barthelomieu (French).
The popularity of the name ‘Bartholomaeus’ is highest in Germany, ranking at 920 on the list of the most popular surnames in the country. It is also fairly common in the United States, with nearly 1000 occurrences listed in the 2012 United States Census. Even today, the surname Bartholomaeus continues to be associated with Germanic ancestry.
Variations of the surname Bartholomaeus
The surname Bartholomaeus has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Variants are Bartholomäus in Germany, Bartolo/Bartolome in Italy, Bartolomé in Spain, Bartlomiej/Bartlomej in Poland, and Bartolomeu in Portugal. In English, the surname is usually spelt Bartholomew.
This patronymic surname can be found in some Scandinavian countries using various spellings, such as Bertelsson and Bartelson in Sweden and Bartholsen in Norway. It can also be found in other countries in Eastern Europe, such as Czech Republic, where the surname is spelt Bartoš, Slovakia, where the spelling is Bartošová, and Hungary, where it is spelt Bartholomaeus.
In France, the surname is often spelt Barthélemy, while in the Netherlands, it is Bartholomeus. The Russian spelling is Bartolomayev, while in Croatia and Slovenia, the surname is spelt Bartoluci. In Finland, the name can be found as Bartos and in Latvia, it is spelt Bartolomejs.
In the United States, the surname Bartholomaeus is often replaced by similar spellings, such as Bartholomew and Bartholomew. The surname can also be found as Bartholemew, Bartholmew, Bartolomay, Bartolomoe, and Bartolomolli. Other spellings in the United States include Bartolomeis, Bartolomeo, Bartometz, and Bartholemue.
Famous people with the name Bartholomaeus
- Anthony Bartholomaeus: former Archdeacon of Coventry, England
- Michael Bartholomaeus: German footballer
- Tycho Bartholomaeus: Danish nobleman
- Winfried Bartholomaeus: German Jesuit
- Robert Bartholomaeus: University of Louvain professor
- Willi Bartholomaeus: German diplomat
- Ezekias Bartholomaeus: Hessian military leader
- Bernd Bartholomaeus: German City Treasurer
- Paul Bartholomaeus: Dr. phil. and founder of the Ost-Gemeinde Neuss
- Lars Bartholomaeus: Technical University of Berlin professor