Bartholomew

The story behind Bartholomew

Bartholomew derives from the Aramaic name Bar-Talmay, literally meaning "son of Tolmai" or "son of furrows." The name combines the Aramaic patronymic prefix "bar" (son) with "Tolmai," a personal name of uncertain ultimate origin, though some sources connect it to a root suggesting agriculture or cultivation. The name traveled through Greek as Bartholomaios (Βαρθολομαῖος) and subsequently into Latin as Bartholomaeus, eventually developing the English form Bartholomew by the Middle Ages. The name's evolution reflects the historical path of Aramaic through Hellenistic and Roman spheres of influence.

Bartholomew is primarily known as one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, mentioned in the New Testament gospels and Acts. In Christian tradition, this apostle is often identified with Nathanael, who appears in the Gospel of John. According to traditional accounts, Bartholomew became a missionary and traveled to various regions including India, Armenia, and modern-day Turkey, where he reportedly met a martyr's death, being flayed alive—an account preserved in medieval hagiography. The saint was widely venerated throughout medieval Christendom and appears prominently in religious art and devotional literature. His feast day, August 24, became one of the principal observances in the Christian calendar. The name's popularity in English-speaking countries grew substantially during the medieval period and remained steady through the 19th century, peaking around the 1880s in the United States.