Derived from the Germanic elements bald 'bold, brave' and win 'friend'. In the Middle Ages this was a popular name in Flanders and among the Normans, who brought it to Britain. It was borne by one of the leaders of the First Crusade, an 11th-century nobleman from Flanders. After the crusaders conquered Jerusalem, he was crowned as the king of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Baldwin is a very old name and is derived from the Old English Bealdwine or the Germanic Boldwine. It is a compound of the two Germanic words, 'bold' which means 'bold or brave' and 'wine' which means 'friend'.
