Winthrop Name Meaning and Origin

Gender: Boy
Origin: English
Meaning: Friend’s village
Popularity: Not in the U.S. top 1,000 names

Winthrop Name Meaning and Origin

Winthrop is of Old English origin, derived from the elements “wine” meaning “friend” and “throp” meaning “village” or “settlement.” As a given name, it carries the meaning of “friend’s village” or “village of friends.” It was historically used as a surname, notably by John Winthrop, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which helped popularize the name in America. The name is traditionally masculine but is rare as a first name today. Winthrop evokes a sense of early American colonial history and is often associated with nobility and leadership.