Bartholomew is an English or Jewish (generally also Christian) given name that derives from the Aramaic name meaning "son of Talmai". Bar is Aramaic for "son", and marks patronyms. Talmai either comes from telem "furrow" or is a Hebrew version of Ptolemy. Thus Bartholomew is either "son of furrows" (i.e., rich in land) or "son of Ptolemy".
Bartholomew (Barry) is English or Scottish but also a Jewish surname with the same meaning as the above as a given name.
People with the given name
Bartholomew, one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus
Bartholomew (Archdeacon of Waterford) (early 13th century) Bartholomaeus Parvus (died 1333), known as the Apostle of Armenia Bartholomaeus Anglicus, Franciscan encyclopedist of the thirteenth century Venerable Bartholomew of Braga (1514–1582) – Catholic Encyclopedia article Bartholomew of Braganca (c.1200–1271) – Catholic Encyclopedia article Bartholomew of Brescia (died 1258), Italian canonist – Catholic Encyclopedia article Bartholomew of Edessa, Syrian apologist and polemical writer – Catholic Encyclopedia article Bartholomew of Farne (died 1193), English Hermit and saint Bartholomew of Lucca (1227–1327), historian Any of three Medieval Pisans known as Bartholomew of Pisa, Catholic Encyclopedia article Bartholomew Albizzi (died 1342), Franciscan hagiographer Bartholomew Rinonico (died c.1401), Franciscan chronicler Bartholomew of San Concordio (1260–1347), canonist and man of letters – Catholic Encyclopedia article Fra Bartolomeo (1472–1517), Tuscan Renaissance artist Bartholomew Dias (died 1500), Portuguese maritime explorer, first European to sail round the Cape of Good Hope Bartholomew Columbus (1461–1515), cartographer, brother of Christopher Columbus, founder of Santo Domingo Bartolomé de las Casas (1484–1566) O.P., notable early campaigner against slavery associated with development of Human Rights ideas Bartholomew Gosnold (1571–1607), English lawyer, explorer and privateer Bartholomew Sharp (c.1650–1702), English pirate Bartholomew Roberts, "Black Bart" (1682–1722) infamous Welsh Pirate Bartholomew "Bart" Baker (born 1986), American entertainer and video producer Bartłomiej Pękiel, Polish composer in the 17th century Bartolomeo Vanzetti (1888–1927) Italian-born US anarchist Bartholomew "Bobby" Boriello (1929–1991), New York mobster Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople (born 1940) Bartholomew Gilbert (died 1603), English sailor, explorer, captain Barthélémy Toguo (born 1967), Officer of the Order of Arts and Literature Cameroonian painter, visual and performing artist