Surname Bartley - Meaning and Origin

Unearthing Ancestral Ties: A Deep-Dive into My Bartley Surname via iGENEA DNA Test

Tracing my roots through an iGENEA DNA test provided fascinating insights into my lineage. The results suggested a stringently Western European background, hinting at the prevalence of my surname, Bartley, in England, Ireland, and Scotland. Moreover, it signified strong Celtic affiliations, picturing broad British meadows as ancestral homelands and revealing an unique degree of genetic rarity.

C. Bartley

Bartley: What does the surname Bartley mean?

The last name Bartley is of Irish origin and it is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name "O Bartaile," which means "descendant of Bartaile". The personal name Bartaile is a reduction of the Old Norse name "Bartolomeus," which typically means "son of Tolmai" or "having many furrows," symbolizing a rich person or a successful farmer. The surname can also be traced back to the ancient clan systems of Scotland and Ireland. It is also sometimes used as a variant for the name "Bartle," a pet form of the personal name Bartholomew. It is to note that last names can have multiple origins and meanings as they travelled, adapted, and evolved over time and geographical areas.

Bartley: Where does the name Bartley come from?

The surname Bartley is believed to have originated from England, derived from an Old English term 'bere-tun-leah' that translates to 'the clearing in the barley field.' In early records, the name showed up in several forms, such as Bartley, Bartlie, Bartly, and others in Great Britain, particularly on the southern coast near Hampshire and Sussex. Apart from England, the surname Bartley is also prevalent in Ireland due to English colonization.

Today, the surname Bartley has spread across the world, notably in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and elsewhere in the Commonwealth nations due to British emigration. However, the significant concentrations of Bartleys are still found in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Globalization and emigration have made the surname more widespread, but its roots can be traced back to English and Irish ancestry.

Variations of the surname Bartley

The surname Bartley originates from the Irish name "O Bheartaigh", derived from the word "beart" which means "trick or stratagem". The native Irish Gaelic spelling of Bartley is O’Bartley and Ó Bheartaigh.

Over time, it has evolved into numerous variations including Bartly, Bartaile, Bartaille, Barthley, Bartlie, Bartlee, Breartla, and Bartlet, among others. It may get confused with similar sounding names like Barkley or Bartlett but these are distinct names derived from different origins.

Sometimes prefix such as O’ or Mc/Mac is added to form O’Bartley, McBartley, or MacBartley, following the Celtic tradition of denoting "son of Bartley". Additionally, anglicized forms like Barclay or Berkeley are sometimes mistakenly linked to Bartley due to phonetic similarities, but they too have different roots.

An interesting mutation of the name is in Scotland where Bartley converted to Birtley over the generations.

In some families, the original surname might have been shortened, changed, or adapted due to migration or local dialects, adding to the diversity of the name's variants. Regardless of the spelling, all these versions share a common Gaelic origin connecting them back to the Irish name "O Bheartaigh".

Famous people with the name Bartley

• Robert Bartley: Former editor of the Wall Street Journal.
• George Bartley: An English stage actor.
• John Bartley: A New Zealand cinematographer known for his work on TV shows like "The X-Files" and "Lost".
• Jenna Lee Bartley: A professional model and actress from the United States.
• Kyle Bartley: A professional footballer from England who plays as a defender.
• Adam Bartley: An American actor best known for his role in the television series "Longmire".
• George Bartley: A former professional boxer from the United States.
• William Bartley: An English philosopher and author.
• Paul Bartley: An American football coach.
• Neville Bartley: A former New Zealand Rugby Union player.
• Ryan Bartley: An American actress and voice actress.
• Edward Bartley: A New Zealand architect.
• Bob Bartley: An American professional football player.
• Colin Bartley: An Irish cricketer.
• Peter Bartley: A UK-based TV and movie actor.
• Craig Bartley: A Canadian ice hockey player.
• James Bartley: An English professional Rugby League footballer of the 1920s.
• Peter Bartley: A stage and screen actor.
• Jimmy Bartley: A Brazilian actor.
• Steve Bartley: An American aquanaut.

Other surnames

BartlBartleBärtleBartlebaughBartlechnerBartlerBartlesonBartletBartlettBartlingBärtlingBartlmäBartlmaeBartlmässBartlmäßBartlmeBartloffBartloméBartlowBartly