'madrona' originates from Spanish, specifically the word 'madroña' (Spanish for the strawberry tree), where the term referred to the 'strawberry tree' (a type of Arbutus).

'madrona' was borrowed into English from Spanish 'madroña' (and variant 'madroño') and came to be applied to the related North American species Arbutus menziesii in English usage.

Initially, it meant the 'strawberry tree' (Arbutus unedo) in Spain, but over time it was applied in English to the North American species Arbutus menziesii and came to mean that specific Pacific Coast tree.