Patronymic from Andrew, from Greek Andreas meaning 'manly, brave, warrior'.
Andrews as a given name is a surname repurposed, and that surname traces to one of the most venerated figures in Christian tradition: Saint Andrew the Apostle, whose name derived from the Greek Andreas, meaning "manly" or "of valor." Andrew was one of the first disciples called by Jesus, a fisherman from Bethsaida who became patron saint of Scotland, Russia, Greece, Romania, Ukraine, and several other nations — a remarkable roster that reflects how widely his cult spread from the early Church outward. The diagonal cross, or saltire, on which he was traditionally said to have been martyred appears on the Scottish flag.
The surname Andrews spread through the British Isles with the saint's popularity, and from there followed emigration routes to North America, Australia, and beyond. As a given name, Andrews is distinctly American in flavor — a tradition of using family surnames as first names, particularly strong in the South and in families wishing to preserve a maternal line. It sits alongside names like Harrison, Jefferson, and Monroe in the category of names that carry a faint historical formality, as though being introduced at a banquet.
Modern cultural associations cluster around Julie Andrews, the British actress and singer whose luminous performances in *Mary Poppins* and *The Sound of Music* gave the name a graceful, warm resonance — though she carries it as a surname. The name also resonates through Roy Andrews, the adventurer-paleontologist who inspired Indiana Jones, and Dana Andrews, the mid-century Hollywood actor. As a first name, Andrews is unusual enough to feel considered and strong without being outlandish — a surname worn as a given name with quiet confidence.