Pack

Meaning and origin

The last name Pack is of English origin, derived from the Middle English word "pakke," which referred to a pack or bundle. It likely originated as an occupational surname for someone involved in packing goods or for a peddler carrying a pack on their back. The name Pack can also have Germanic roots, derived from the Old High German word "bacco," meaning batch or bundle, indicating a similar occupational or trade association in Germany.

The longer story

The last name Pack is of English origin and is classified as a patronymic surname, meaning it is derived from the personal name of an ancestor. In this case, the name Pack is believed to have originated as a diminutive of the personal name "Patrick". Diminutives were commonly used in medieval times to create surnames.

The surname Pack can be traced back to the 13th century, with the earliest recorded instance found in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk in 1273. During this time, surnames were gradually becoming hereditary, passing from fathers to their children.

The geographic distribution of the surname Pack indicates that it is most commonly found in England, particularly in the counties of Hampshire, Dorset, and Devon. This suggests that the surname originated in these regions and subsequently spread to other areas through migration and settlement.

Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.