Pope Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Pope last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Pope last name
Meaning of the Pope last name: pope, a nickname. Pope comes from the old English word for the pope, but it was a nickname rather than a sign of descent. It could be given to a man with a solemn, self-important manner, or to someone who played the pope in a festival or pageant. The name is common in the south and west of England. A curious detail: the poet Alexander Pope made the name famous with his sharp, witty verse.
Arms associated with the Pope name
English heraldry loves puns, with pictures chosen to match the sound of a name, and families like the Popes often enjoyed that playful custom.
Get your full Pope family history
This is only a glimpse of the Pope story. The full Pope history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Pope coat of arms. Get the full Pope report.
Pope name FAQ
What does the Pope name mean?
Pope, a nickname. Common variants include Popp, Pape, Papa.
Where does the Pope surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Canada.
Is there a Pope coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Pope coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.