Page

Etymology

The surname comes from the common medieval word page, meaning a young attendant or servant, especially at a noble household or court. Old French page and Italian paggio are the immediate forms cited by early surname writers; these were often linked, at least by older etymologists, to Greek roots meaning a young boy or slave. In English, the word also came to mean a pageboy or junior household servant, which is the sense most likely behind the surname.

History

Early surname authorities treated Page as one of the classic occupational names, alongside Butler, Chamberlain, and Spencer, because it referred to an indoor servant’s role. It became established in England early and remained common enough to produce related forms such as Paget and Pagden. The name is widespread today, especially in English-speaking countries, and is also found as a given surname in literary and historical records.

Origin

Regions

Variant spellings

Fun fact

19th-century surname books liked to point out that page, boy, and servant once overlapped in meaning across several European languages.

Related surnames