One theory is that the name comes from the word Papo Ua shortened from Papo Ua Gam Sio, a Tidorese term which means 'the nine sio (negeri) not being united/joined together', referring to the region under Sultanate of Tidore influence which has competing settlements.

These two theories may be related, as the term can also means 'the subjected land' according to the Ma'ya (non-Biak) Salawati King, one of the four kings, whose ancestor Gurabesi migrated from Biak and conquered these islands under the name of Tidore Sultan and became the intermediaries between settlements on New Guinea coast and Tidore in collecting tributes and trades.

[citation needed] After the passing of the Special Autonomy Law in 2001, the term "Native Papuan" (Orang Asli Papua, shortened to "OAP") was legally introduced to refer to specifically indigenous tribes from Western New Guinea,[6] as the term Orang Papua has expanded to include migrants and their intermarried descendants who were born in Papua but don't belong to any indigenous tribes from New Guinea.

Most Papuan tribes, with exceptions, are patrilineal and do not recognise matrilineal descents as members, as they do not carry the clan names.

[7] Though contentious, recognition by a tribal adat council can accommodate female descents and confers OAP status.