Bartholomew is a masculine given name derived from the Aramaic bar-Talmay, meaning "son of the furrows" or "son of the fertile lands". It has its origins in the ancient Near East and is believed to have been used among Aramaic-speaking communities in the region.

The name gained widespread recognition in the Christian tradition due to its association with one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, Bartholomew. He is mentioned in the New Testament gospels, and his feast day is celebrated on August 24th in the Roman Catholic Church.

The earliest recorded use of the name Bartholomew dates back to the 1st century AD, during the time of the Apostles. However, it is likely that the name existed earlier in Aramaic-speaking cultures.

In the Middle Ages, the name Bartholomew became popular in Europe, particularly in England, where it was often rendered as Bartholome or Bertholomew. During this period, the name was borne by several notable figures, including Bartholomew of Exeter (c. 1115-1184), an English scholar and writer.

Another notable bearer of the name was Bartholomew Diaz (c. 1450-1500), a Portuguese explorer who was the first European to round the southern tip of Africa, which he named the Cape of Good Hope.

In the 16th century, Bartholomew Iscanus (c. 1518-1590) was a renowned English calligrapher and writer on penmanship, who contributed to the development of the English Secretary hand script.

During the 17th century, Bartholomew Roberts (c. 1682-1722) was a famous Welsh pirate who raided ships off the Americas and West Africa, earning the nickname "Black Bart".

In the 20th century, Bartholomew "Bart" Cummings (1927-2015) was an Australian horse trainer who won the Melbourne Cup a record 12 times, cementing his status as a legendary figure in Australian horse racing.