Pape Family History
Pape Name Meaning
North German Dutch English (mainly northern) and French: nickname from Middle Low German Middle Dutch pape ‘priest cleric’ Old French pape ‘pope’ possibly for a person thought dignified or magnificent or for someone with a severe or pompous manner or perhaps a pageant name for someone who had played the part of a pope or priest. Compare Papa and Pope . English (mainly northern) North German and Dutch: from an ancient Germanic personal name Pap(p)o of uncertain origin which occurs as the first element of the placename Papworth (Cambridgeshire) and Papendrecht (South Holland). English (mainly northern): nickname from Middle English pap(e) pappe ‘gruel porridge baby food’ (Old French papa) related to pappe ‘breast’ (from Latin papilla) perhaps for someone who lacked the teeth for more substantial food. German: nickname from a baby word for ‘father’. Compare Baab .
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022