Pace surname meaning
An English surname from a short form of Latin Paschalis (Paschal/Easter), or a nickname from Middle English “peace”; also Italian Pace from pace, “peace.”
Confidence: Disputed. More than one origin is plausible, or sources disagree. We show the conflict rather than pick a cute answer.
The short story
Pace is an English surname with two main dictionary routes. One is a vernacular short form of Latin Paschalis (Paschal), an Easter-linked personal name; the other is a nickname from Middle English pais/pace, “peace,” for a mild or peaceable person. Italian Pace comes from the vocabulary word pace, “peace,” used as a medieval given name for men and women, sometimes shortened from Bonapace. Pacey and Paci are related spellings. Parent’s name fits the Paschal and Italian given-name leads common in Anglo-Italian explanations, but the English peace nickname keeps confidence disputed.
Also seen as: Pace, Pacey, Paci, Paschal
- Ancestry / DAFN entry for Pace (Paschalis short form; Middle English peace nickname; Italian Pace)
- FamilySearch Pace surname entry
- Names2020_LastNames_RaceHispanic_Top1000.xlsx (2020 Census)