'Baldwin' originates from Germanic (via Old French), specifically from the personal name 'Baldwin', built from the elements 'bald' meaning 'bold' and 'win' meaning 'friend'.

'Baldwin' passed into Old French as 'Baudouin' and Middle English as 'Baldwin', and then became used as a hereditary surname and as a place-name; later the name was applied to other things (for example, the apple cultivar).

Initially it meant 'bold friend' as a compound personal name; over time it became primarily a hereditary surname and a place-name, and has been used as a name for other items (such as the Baldwin apple).