The name Mindrum, is thought to be of Cumbric origin. It can be explained as a compound of the words equivalent to Welsh mynydd, 'mountain' and drum, 'ridge'. Mindrum appears to have the same etymology as Mynydd y Drum, Wales. Whilst the term 'mountain' may be optimistic, the village is flanked by a clear ridge running from Camp Hill to the Mindrum Mill Crag on its North West Flank. Although the word Min in Welsh means an edge. Thus an alternative, and perhaps more logical, etymology is edge of the ridge.