Save Type Surname (from nickname) Usage English Pronounced Pron. POW-ər [key·IPA] Meaning & History From Middle English povre meaning "poor", via Old French from Latin pauper. It could have been a nickname for someone who had no money or a miser. Related NamesDetails VariantPowersSame SpellingPower 1 Categories English nouns, English verbs, strength, wealth, word names