This notable and long-established surname is English and Scottish, but ultimately of pre 9th century Old French origins. As such it had nothing to do with not being married, but was a status name for a young knight or novice at arms, the derivation being from the word Roman-Latin "baccalarius". The word was introduced into England by the Norman-French after the Conquest of 1066, and by the 14th century the meaning had been extended to "unmarried man". However if that is the origination of the surname, it would suggest that it was a robust or Chaucerian nickname given to a mmried man, but one who behaved otherwise! Early examples of the surname recordings 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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