The etymological origin of the name Andratx is uncertain, as there are several different theories: Celtic, Arabic and Latin. Latin seems the most plausible origin, based on the theory that the name Andratx derives from the name antra, meaning caves.

The first settlers

We have knowledge about the first inhabitants of Andratx, thanks to the occupation of different caves in the region during the Bronze Age: clear examples are the Son Bosc and Son Fortuny caves, among others.
From the Pre-talaiotic cluture, with its famous navetes, boat shaped constructions, the only remains are found in Ses Basses. The Talaiotic culture existed around 1300- 1000 B.C.some fine exemples are the talaiots of Biniorella, Son Fortuny and Es Castellàs in S'arracó.
From the 6th century bc began the decline of the Talayotic culture and the arrival of new people to our shores, such as Greeks and punics, primarily by trade and training of troops with the honderos. This exchange there are archaeological remains of 
Boats,anchors and ceramocs from the deposits.

The Roman Dominion

 The entire society underwent a change after the Roman conquest in the year 123 B.C., with the foundation of military settlements and the organising of land into centurionships. Artefacts pf the period include reads, villas (Son Mas), boats, a milari, mile stone,etc. This would indicate that a great change took place within our boundaries.

The Early Middle Ages

Later, the region was inhabited by the Vandals and Byzantines during the 4 ? 9 centuries B.C. The presence of these civilizations is still in evidence thanks to the ceramic remains of Son Mas and Camp de Mar, among others. It was not until the Muslim conquest of the island in the year 902 B.C. that another change took place in its physiognomy.

The Arab conquest

It is very likely that Andratx formed part of the Juz de Al-Ahwaz.
There was a small cluster of houses and a mosque in the area surrounding the street calle Estrella. The remainder was structured into farmsteads scattered all over the area, such as Buendar, Ator, Biniorella, Tor, Salmanoir and others. From this
period, irrigation ditches, watermills, canals, reservoirs, etc., are in evidence.

The catalan conquest: the Baronia

In 1229 the troops led by Jaime I conquered the island and once the occupation ended, the territory was shared out among the great lords who had accompanied the king. The Bishop of Barcelona, Berenguer de Palou, became the first Christian lord in the territories of Andratx, Calvià, Puigpunyent, Estellencs, Marratxí, Pla de Sant Jordi and the parish of Santa Creu de Palma. In the year 1323,a new treaty called the Pariatge was signed, in which the king and the Bishop of Barcelona shared the jurisdiction of the whole territory between them.

In the year1248 the parish of Santa Maria de Andratx was founded. A hamlet was set up in el Pantaleu at the coast, where later, at the beginning of the 14 th century, Jaime II founded a hospital with an oratory, dedicated to Sant Elm.

In the 14 th centurythe first corsairs began to arrive, and in 1406,a plan was started to fortify the town, which was never completed.

During the 16 th and part of the 17 th century, two important events are to be mentioned. The first was the revolt of the Germanías,brother-hoods, a social movement against the ruling classes in 1521,in which terrible crimes against The Son Fortuny family by the Agermanats were committed. The Tower of Son Mas was defended in the name of the king. The other fact was the the incursions by Turkish and Arab corsairs, of which the most important were those of 24 August 1553,2 August 1578 and 9 June 1643.

The 16th and 17th centuries were times marked by famine, poverty, demographic decline and emigration to large cities, but in spite of this, two significant districts were created in Andratx: el Pantaleu and el Pou Amunt.

The 18th century was a time of recovery, with the creation of small flourishing villages nearby, e.g.Sa Coma and S'arracó. Fishing and agricultural trades developed, but also hardship and popular revolts, in addition to the political upheavals and municipal because of the publication by Felipe V of the Decree of the new plant, inaugurating a new centralized system of state administration.

In the 19th century, the town underwent great expansion with the modernisation of the financial and industrial sectors, such as the manufacture of soap and wood, which led to the creation of sixteen soap plants and a great many of wood manufactures. However, at the end of the century, due to industrial decline, the great number of inhabitants of the municipality diminished mainly because of the strong Emigration from Andratx to Cuba, or of the arraconers to France marked the last few decades of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century.

During the 20th century, two different phases emerged. The first was during the decade of the sixties , because of a sharp decline in trade, caused by emigration, the dictatorship, the civil war and smuggling activities. The second was marked by economic and productive changes as consequence of the flourishing tourist, construction and service industries, and by a great increase in population, with the ensuing growth in towns. The growth of the residential area around the Port, the creation of a large residential area in Camp de Mar and in Sant Elm and the unification of Sa Coma with the village, converting it into a neighborhood. Currently the andritxoles are dedicated to the tourism, construction and services.