Meaning: Its source is Bartholomaios, a Greek name meaning "Son of Talmai."

Narrative: Talmai was an Aramaic personal name meaning ''well-ploughed fields'' or ''abundant furrows.''

Bartholomaios may have originated as a by-name for one of Christ's disciples, traditionally identified as Nathaniel. Other disciples whose nicknames later developed into names in their own right include Peter (meaning ''rock''), whose given name was Simon, and Thaddeus (meaning ''heart''), whose given name was Judas.