The name "Martha's Vineyard" comes from the island being renamed in 1602 by the British explorer Bartholomew Gosnold. It is widely believed that Gosnold named it after his daughter or possibly his mother, both named Martha. The "Vineyard" part of the name refers to the wild grapevines that grew abundantly on the island, which reminded him of a vineyard. The island was originally called "Noepe," meaning "land amid the streams," by the Wampanoag Native American tribe who lived there before European arrival. Despite the name, there are no large vineyards on the island today, just wild grapevines. The exact origin of the name has multiple theories but this explanation is the most accepted one.
