The surname Bartula has its origins in Eastern Europe, specifically in the present-day countries of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The name can be traced back to the 15th century, and it is believed to have derived from the Croatian word "bart," meaning "beard." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who had a distinctive beard.

Bartula is a variation of the more common Croatian surname Bartulic, which is also derived from the same root word. The name is found in various historical records from the region, including church registers and land ownership documents. One of the earliest known records dates back to the late 15th century, where a person named Petar Bartula was mentioned in a document from the city of Dubrovnik.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Bartula was particularly prevalent in the coastal regions of Dalmatia and the islands of the Adriatic Sea. It was also found in the hinterland areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where many Croatian families had settled. During this period, the name was sometimes spelled differently, such as "Bartolla" or "Bartulla," reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

Notable individuals with the surname Bartula include Stjepan Bartula, a Croatian painter and sculptor who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was born in 1869 in the town of Drnis and is known for his works depicting scenes from Croatian folklore and rural life.

Another prominent figure was Jakov Bartula, a Croatian writer and journalist who was active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was born in 1858 in the town of Sinj and wrote extensively about Croatian history, culture, and politics.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the name Bartula was also found among the Catholic population. One notable example is Ivan Bartula, a Bosnian Croat politician who served as the mayor of Mostar in the early 20th century.

Moving forward to the 20th century, Ante Bartula was a Croatian sculptor and artist who was born in 1920 in the town of Drnis. He is known for his monumental sculptures and works depicting religious themes.

Finally, Ljubomir Bartula was a Croatian football player who played for several clubs in the former Yugoslavia in the 1960s and 1970s. He was born in 1944 in the town of Sibenik.

While the surname Bartula is not as common today as it once was, it remains a part of the rich cultural heritage of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, reflecting the diverse histories and traditions of these regions.