This is a general Slavic naming of a familial-domestic type, which was given to a child as a personal name with protective significance. In the territory of Ukraine, it is first mentioned in 1151 in the form "Paukъ," referring to the boyar Shumskyi, the tutor of Volodymyr Andriyovych. In Poland, the personal name "Pająk" has documented use since 1455, and in 1492 it is mentioned in a document: "Nicolao... dieto Payąk." The name "Paukъ" was also used in Serbia and Russia.