'autogyro' originates from Spanish 'autogiro' (coined by Juan de la Cierva), ultimately from Greek elements 'auto-' meaning 'self' and 'gyro' (from 'gyros') meaning 'turn'.

'autogyro' changed from the Spanish word 'autogiro' (coined in the 1920s) and was adopted into English as 'autogyro'/'autogiro'; later related terms such as 'gyroplane' and 'gyrocopter' also developed.

Initially, it meant 'the specific rotorcraft designed by Juan de la Cierva (autogiro)', but over time it evolved into the more general meaning of 'a rotary-wing aircraft whose rotor is unpowered and spins by autorotation'.