This German surname of PABST was a nickname from the ecclesiastical title for the head of the Roman Catholic Church, originally derived from the Latin word PAPA, meaning bishop or pope. In the early Christian church the Latin term was at first used as a title of respect for male clergy of every rank, but in the western church it gradually came to be restricted to Bishops and then only to the Bishop of Rome; in the eastern church it continued to be used of all priests. The nickname would have been used for a vain or pompous man, or for someone who had played the part of the pope in a pageant or play. Surnames having a derivation from nicknames form the broadest and most miscellaneous class of surnames, encompassing many different types of origin. The most typical classes refer adjectivally to the general physical aspect of the person concerned, or to his character. Many nicknames refer to a man's size or height, while others make reference to a favoured article of clothing or style of dress. Many surnames derived from the names of animals and birds. In the Middle Ages ideas were held about the characters of other living creatures, based on observation, and these associations were reflected and reinforced by large bodies of folk tales featuring animals behaving as humans. The name has travelled widely and variants include LEPAPE, PABST, PFAFFE, PAFFE, PAPEZ and in England the name has been Anglicized to POPE. The first hereditary surnames on German soil are found in the second half of the 12th century, slightly later than in England and France. However, it was not until the 16th century that they became stabilized. The practice of adopting hereditary surnames began in the southern areas of Germany, and gradually spread northwards during the Middle Ages. In the Middle Ages heraldry came into use as a practical matter. It originated in the devices used to distinguish the armoured warriors in tournament and war, and was also placed on seals as marks of identity. As far as records show, true heraldry began in the middle of the 12th century, and appeared almost simultaneously in several countries of Western Europe. |
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