This unusual name meaning 'the son of Bartholomew' is one of an amazing number of variants which derive from St. Bartholomew - the patron saint of tanners, vintners and butlers! The spelling would suggest that there is a French-Huguenot connection and this is quite likely as the first recording is middle 18th century. The name derives from the Ancient Greek 'Talamy' and means a person having many furrows i.e. a land owner or farmer, and as Bartholomew it was originally a Norman Crusader introduction to England after 1066. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Isaac Bartleson (Christened) which was dated 1768 St. Georges Church, Stepney. during the reign of King George III 'Farmer George' 1760-1820 Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.