Papke is a diminutive form of papa, derived from Low German, making it a variant of the surname Pope. The English surname Pope originates from a nickname for someone who played the role of the pope in a play or pageant, or for a man with a solemn or pious demeanor, ultimately from Latin papa (father). In Low German, the diminutive suffix -ke (or -ke) transforms papa into Papke, literally 'little father' or 'little pope.' Distribution and Variants As a Low German surname, Papke is primarily found in northern Germany and regions with historical Low German influence. Cognate forms exist across European languages: Popov (Russian), Popova (Russian feminine), Popović (Serbian), Pape (French), and Pabst (German from Old High German), as well as Pope (English). Notable Bearers Notable individuals with the surname Papke include: Billy Papke (1886–1936), American professional boxer who held the world middleweight title in 1913; Paweł Papke (born 1977), Polish volleyball player and politician; Ulrich Papke (born 1962), East German sprint canoeist who won gold at the 1992 Olympics. Meaning: Diminutive of Low German papa ('father'), also 'little pope' Origin: Low German nickname for a fatherly or papal figure Type: Surname Regions: Northern Germany, diaspora