Originally a Greek word, it means a brave man. One who shows courage, bravery and outstanding manhood. The English form, first recorded from the 13th century, came from the New Testament and the Greek personal name of ‘Andreas.’ It is also derived from the personal English name, ‘Andrew.’ Additional forms of the name include ‘Anderson’.

Most with the ‘Andrew’ surname in the United States are located in the states of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York and going across to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. In the United Kingdom the surname is mostly found in Yorkshire and Lancashire counties. In Southwest Scotland in Andrews families are commonly located in Ayrshire, Renfrewshie and Lanarkshire counties. Going to northeast Scotland they are in Aberdeenshire and Banffshire counties. Most with the ‘Andrews’ spelling are in northeast and mid-America along with Texas, Georgia and California. In United Kingdom, families of Andrews are in high numbers in the London area.

In the 1880s, most Andrews were farmers and then laborers. Famous: Julie Andrews (singer and actress), Harry F. Andrews (British actor), Roy Chapman Andrews (explorer, adventurer during 1920s through 1940s), Naveen Andrews (British actor), Dana Andrews (actor), Kevin Andrews (politician in Australia from 2003 to 2009), Patti, Maxene & Laverne Andrews (singing sisters) and Edward Andrews (actor).