Bartholomew Berolf de Leslie, 1st of Lesslyyn

The progenitor of the Clan Leslie is a man named Bartolf who was a nobleman from Hungary, who came to Scotland in 1067. Bartolf was in the retinue of Edgar the Ætheling, brother of Saint Margaret of Scotland, who was later the queen of Malcolm III of Scotland.Bartholf later married Malcolm III's sister, Princess Beatrix of Scotland.

Bartolf was said to be a man of intellect and bravery and as a result Malcolm III made him governor of the royal Edinburgh Castle and gave him estates in Fife, Angus, the Mearns and Aberdeenshire.[5] It is said that Bartolf helped the queen across a dangerous river on a horse and that Bartolf told her to "grip fast", which is where the Leslie family motto originates.

Bartolf established himself in the Garioch district of Aberdeenshire, at a place then known as Lesselyn.[5] At Lesselyn he built a castle and it is from there that the name evolved into Lesley, and the various spelling variations.[5] Bartolf's son was named Malcolm and was made constable of the royal Inverury Castle, which he held for David II of Scotland. His great-grandson was Sir Norman Lesley who acquired the lands of Fythkill in Fife, which were later called Lesley, in about 1282.

Bartholomew is the founder, the progenitor, of the family of Leslie. So says Leslie family tradition, research performed centuries ago, and contemporary research. Bartholomew's line is well documented. Most Leslie's of today descend from the Balquhain branch of the Leslie's, while some descend from the Rothes line.

I changed the circa birth date from 1090 to 1039 due to an article written by Alexander Leslie Klieforth in the first Griffin Journal reprint, entitled "No. 1: The Clan Leslie Society, some Leslie History and Heraldry", a publication of the American Clan Leslie Society (which later expanded and became the Clan Leslie Society International), in 1998. Mr.Klieforth also wrote Grip Fast: The Leslie's in History, the most recent history of the Leslie family written. In the Griffin reprint, Mr.Klieforth states that Bartholomew came to England in the company of Margaret, future wife of King Malcolm Canmore, III, in the year 1057, and that Bartholomew was 18 years of age at that time. No citation is given, unfortunately, but it is the only reference I have seen anywhere that discusses Bartholomew's age when he first appeared in Britain. I invite discussion with anyone with any other reference to Bartholomew's age or date of birth. Mr.Klieforth was a long time American Ambassador who spent his career travelling around the globe, and used such opportunities to research the Leslie family history for many, many years.

Bartholomew later accompanied Margaret once again, this time to Scotland, in 1067 to 1069, where Margaret married Malcolm Canmore, III, King of Scotland. Bartholomew married Beatrix, the king's sister, and was granted many lands and honors, and it is from that union that the family of Leslie began.

Timothy Wayne Leslie, Historian for the Clan Leslie Society International, 02-12-2013

Bartholomew also known as Bartolf was the founder of the Leslie family. He was an Hungarian nobleman who accompanied Queen Agatha and her family to England. As a favorite of King Malcom Canmore III he was granted lands around an area called Lesslye which was later shortened to Leslie.

Born in Hungary.

Married Beatrix of Scotland, daughter of King Duncan.

Granted lands at Leslie in district of the Garioch, near Aberdeen, originally known as the lands of Lesslyn.

Bartholomew is the founder, the progenitor, of the family of Leslie. So says Leslie family tradition, research performed centuries ago, and contemporary research. Bartholomew's line is well documented. Most Leslie's of today descend from the Balquhain branch of the Leslie's, while some descend from the Rothes line.

I changed the circa birth date from 1090 to 1039 due to an article written by Alexander Leslie Klieforth in the first Griffin Journal reprint, entitled "No. 1: The Clan Leslie Society, some Leslie History and Heraldry", a publication of the American Clan Leslie Society (which later expanded and became the Clan Leslie Society International), in 1998. Mr.Klieforth also wrote Grip Fast: The Leslie's in History, the most recent history of the Leslie family written. In the Griffin reprint, Mr.Klieforth states that Bartholomew came to England in the company of Margaret, future wife of King Malcolm Canmore, III, in the year 1057, and that Bartholomew was 18 years of age at that time. No citation is given, unfortunately, but it is the only reference I have seen anywhere that discusses Bartholomew's age when he first appeared in Britain. I invite discussion with anyone with any other reference to Bartholomew's age or date of birth. Mr.Klieforth was a long time American Ambassador who spent his career travelling around the globe, and used such opportunities to research the Leslie family history for many, many years.

Bartholomew later accompanied Margaret once again, this time to Scotland, in 1067 to 1069, where Margaret married Malcolm Canmore, III, King of Scotland. Bartholomew married Beatrix, the king's sister, and was granted many lands and honors, and it is from that union that the family of Leslie began.

Timothy Wayne Leslie, Historian for the Clan Leslie Society International, 02-12-2013

Was appointed Governor of Edinburgh Castle. Bartholomew also known as Bartolf was the founder of the Leslie family. He was an Hungarian nobleman who accompanied Queen Agatha and her family to England. As a favorite of King Malcom Canmore III he was granted lands around an area called Lesslye which was later shortened to Leslie.

Born in Hungary.

Married Beatrix of Scotland, daughter of King Duncan.

Granted lands at Leslie in district of the Garioch, near Aberdeen, originally known as the lands of Lesslyn.

• https://www.arcanum.hu/hu/online-kiadvanyok/Siebmacher-siebmacher-w...

Siebmacher: Wappenbuch Der Adel von Kroatien und Slavonien. [Horv%C3%A1torsz%C3%A1g és Szlavónia]

Wappen: In S. ein durch drei g. Schnallen gezogener r. Balken „purpurner Gürtel”). Kleinod: G. Freifenrumpf. Decken: rs. Wahlspruch: „Grifo Fast.” Einst reich begütertes, in Steyermark ansässig gewesenes Grafengeschlecht, aus Schottland stammend, wo Barthold ihr Stammvater, „ein Hungarischer Edelmann”, sich 1067 niedergelassen und die Würde eines Lords und „Grafen v. Rothes” erlangt hat. R.-Grafenstand v. König Ferdinand II., d. d. 5. Juni 1648 für Walther v. Leslie, † als Feldmarschall und commandirender General an der slavonischen Grenze, welcher 1632 (als kaiserl. Oberstwachtmeister) an Wallensteins Ermordung theilgenommen. Mit Anton Graf v. Leslie, am 22. Februar 1802 im Mannesstamme erloschen. (Herald. Geneal. Zeitschr. Adler, II. I. 15. nach den Mscrptn. v. Wissgrill. – Zedler, Universallexicon XVI. 478. – Siegel des Wilhelm Graf v. Leslie. – Siehe auch: Wurzbach Dr. Const. v., Biogr. Lex. ec.)

/Once richly wealthy, counts from Steyermark, who came from Scotland, where Barthold's ancestor, "a Hungarian nobleman", settled in 1067 and the dignity of lord and "count v. Rothes ”/.