This notable and long-established surname is of pre 7th century Old French origin. It was a status name for a young knight or novice at arms, the derivation being from the word Roman-Latin "baccalarius". The name was introduced into England by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066, and was later adopted into English. By the 14th Century the word "bachelor" had already been extended to mean "unmarried man", but it is unlikely that many bearers of the surname derive it from the word in that sense. Early examples of the surname include: Stephen le Bachilier of Suffolk in the year 1203; Walter le Bachelor of Surrey in 1248; and Magg Bacheler, in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire for 1273. In Scotland, the name has acquired an added meaning, that of "young tenant farmer" or "holder of a small farm". Early examples of the surname recording include William Bacheler, a burgess of Haddington, East Lothian, in 1296, and David Bachelar, the serjeant of Forfar, in 1472. In the modern idiom the name has many spelling variations, ranging from Bachelor, Bachellier, Batchelar and Batchellor, to Batchelour, Batchelder and Batcheldor. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Roger Bachelere. This was dated circa 1165, in the "Chartulary of Staffordshire", during the reign of King Henry 11nd of England, 1154 - 1189. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop", often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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