Surname Papst - Meaning and Origin

Papst: What does the surname Papst mean?

The last name Papst is of German origin and has several possible meanings.

The most common translation is 'pope', derived from the Middle High German 'Papst'. This likely refers to a family of spiritual or clerical ancestry, with some records dating back to the 1500s in Bavaria and Austria.

In the Low German dialect, 'Papst' refers to someone descended from a Dutch or Flemish background. This could refer to occupations relating to weaving and tailoring which were brought to Bavaria by these migrants.

The last name could also be derived from the German word 'pappen' which means 'to paste' or 'to patch'. This could indicate a family from a background of leatherworking, cobbling, and other crafting trades.

Finally, 'papst' can also derive from the Middle High German word 'papfringen', meaning 'rings on a staff', possibly referring to a heraldic symbol or a family crest.

No matter what the source is, the name Papst has a long history, offering a glimpse into the ancestry of a family.

Papst: Where does the name Papst come from?

The last name Papst is most commonly found in German-speaking regions, particularly in Germany and Austria. Additionally, Papst is not a common name in the United States.

In Germany, Papst is the 19th most common last name, with about 74,000 people bearing the name. It is found primarily in the western part of the country, particularly in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse. In Austria, Papst is the 30th most common last name and is found in the central and eastern parts of the country.

The origin of the name is Germanic, and it likely comes from the word "Papas", which means pope in Latin. It may refer to someone who was related to a papal family, a follower of the pope, or even someone who held a high spiritual leadership. It is also possible that the name was adopted through name-giving customs rather than inherited from the family.

The name Papst is not as widespread today as it once was. It has maintained its presence in Germany and Austria, but its popularity has significantly declined over time. Nevertheless, it remains a unique and recognizable name in those regions.

Variations of the surname Papst

The surname Papst is an occupational surname which translates to mean “Pope” or “Holy Father” in English. This surname is primarily found in Central Europe and in countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Poland. The variants of this surname are Popst, Poppst, Pabst, and Popest with alternate spellings such as Papst, Pobst, and Paepst.

This surname is often found under various surnames due to its international origin and numerous spellings. Variants of Papst found in German-speaking countries include Popp, Poppe, Popow, Popitz, and Poppert. In the Netherlands and Belgium, this surname is most commonly found as Popma or Pobma. In Switzerland, the most commonly used variant is Popescu.

The Polish variant of this surname is Papczyk and in Czech it is Papczyk. In Italy, the Italian version of this surname is Papa. In Spanish, the surname is most often seen as Papas while in Portuguese it is Papaz. In Hungary, the surname is most commonly found as Papi and in Serbia, as Papić.

Overall, the surname Papst originated in Central Europe and can be found in various spellings and variants in many countries. Variants in other languages include Popma or Pobma in The Netherlands and Belgium, Popescu in Switzerland, Papczyk in Poland and Czech Republic, Papa in Italy, Papas in Spain, Papaz in Portugal, Papi in Hungary, and Papić in Serbia.

Famous people with the name Papst

• Roman Papst: German professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga.
• Wolfram Papst: German politician who served as the President of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2002.
• Noah Papst: German hip-hop and reggae recording artist who is a member of the music group Fler and Bushido.
• Nicolai Papst: German actor and voice actor who starred in the 2018 sci-fi film Mute.
• Otl Aicher Papst: German sports journalist who wrote for L'Equipe and was the author of the sports documentary One Day in October.
• Andreas Papst: German film producer who directed the 1993 comedy film Manta, Manta.
• Marlen Papst: German nutritionist and author of the best-selling book "Verwöhnen statt Verbieten" (Spoiling instead of forbidding).
• Fred Papst: German film director, editor and producer who directed the 2011 television movie Die Letzte Spur: Im Herzen.
• Isabell Papst: German cross-country skier who competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics and won a bronze medal in the 4 x 5 km relay.
• Hansjörg Papst: German businessman who serves as the chairman of Raiffeisen Bank International.

Other surnames

Papstmann