Origin of the Name

Andrews is a Christian name. The English word Andrew, and its equivalents in other languages has been used as a name for members of the human family from the time of remote antiquity.

The Latin word Andreas, signifies a man, or manly, or like a man.

The English word Andrew means the same.

It was the name of the first disciple of Jesus. One commentator suggests, that probably the apostle had also a Hebrew name, and that the name Andrew was given to characterize his manly spirit, as his brother, whose Hebrew name was Simon, was called Peter, the rock. Perhaps this was about the earliest use to be found in history, of the word as the name of an individual. Because of the fact that it was the name of so distinguished and illustrious a personage in the annals of Christian history, it is not improbable, but quite natural for the believers and followers of Christ and his apostles to adopt and continue this name; the same as at present people name their children after noted and illustrious persons. The home of Andrew was at Bethsaida, in Galilee, then a Roman province.

It is supposed that after the Crucifixion, this apostle preached in Scythia, Greece and Epirus, and finally suffered martyrdom at Patræ in Achaia, A. D. 62 or 70, on a cross called St. Andrew's Cross, formed thus: X

St. Andrews, is the patron Saint of Scotland, and is also held in great veneration in Russia as the apostle who according to tradition first preached Christianity in that country. In both countries there is an order of Knighthood named in his honor.

If these traditions are based upon facts, there were opportunities to spread and perpetuate the name. Communication between the Jewish provinces and Rome, at that period, would naturally take the name to the latter place; and it would become coined into the Latin language; even if it had not been already borrowed from the Greek; just as we coin new words into our language to-day. Names or nmuns are words mkst readily borrowed.

It was the most natural thing for the early Christians to preserve the names of their saints; their first teacher and preachers; their authorities in doctrinal matter; they were land marks, so to speak.

There are no acquirements more firmly impressed upon the different races of people, than their religious customs and usages.

It may have been considered a mark of distinction to bear the name of a martyred Christian. It may have been regarded a duty by the Church to perpetuate the names of its saints and martyrs, by bestowing them upon living individuals. The signification of the name itself, alone, renders it peculiarly appropriate as a name for man. When the name became established once as a familiar one with the Romans, it naturally spread through Christendom, to every place where the Roman arms were victorious; or where the Christian religion was established, and so we find it all over Europe; Andrea in Italy; Andreas in Germany; Andre and Andrieux in France; Andrés in Spain; and Andrew with its various terminations and corruptions in England.

In England it is a very old as well as common name; probably carried there by the Romans. Five hundred years of Roman rule was sufficient to permanently fix the name there.

The English books on Heraldry give a full description of many Coats of Arms of the different branches of the family.

Like many other old English names, the orthography has been corrupted; there are various terminations which have as little signification as the Coats of Arms; the name is spelled variously, thus: Andrew, Andrews, Andrewes, Andros, Andross, Andrus, Andruss, Andras, Anders, Androse, Androwes, Androuse, Andores, &c. &c.

Antiquaries give little heed to the mere spelling of names; either by living individuals or as found in records; as evidence of relationship; other tests must be considered.

It is not uncommon to find known relatives at the present time who spell their names differently. Two hundred years ago and prior to that time there were no standards for English orthography; the people spelled very carelessly, each to please his fancy, any way and every way; many were then unable to read or write at all and trusted such matters to public scriveners and to the parish officials; one clerk would spell the name in his peculiar manner, while the clerk in a neighboring town spelled it differently; long continuance in the same place by the same family, tended to the adoption of a form of the name peculiar to a given family of relatives, while the separation of relatives, exhibited frequently, a marked difference in the name.

In such ways the forms of the name have multiplied. It is a wonder that our names have been so well preserved.