Pai (surname)

This article is about the surname Pai, originating in India. For the surname Pai originating in other countries, or for other uses, see Pai.
Pai
Family name
Pronunciation Konkani: [pɵi]
Meaning prakrit of Pati or "Lord"
Region of origin India

Contents

Pai (Konkani पै [pɵi]) is a common surname amongst the Gowd Saraswat Brahmins of India. Pai is known to be a prakrit of Pati or "Lord". An unlikely source is leg or foot or one amassed wealth. Pai may have come from Appaya meaning elderbrother according to Poet B.B. Borkar.

Families with the surname Pai, are Saraswat Brahmins who speak the Konkani language. The common person who had not amassed wealth or power was known as Pai.Their job was menial in maintaining ledgers and doing odd jobs. The Pai were mainly ledger keepers.[1]

The surname Pai comes from the word "Prakit" or Lord. Families with the last name Pai are Saraswat Brahmins. It is believed that GSBs descended from Kashmir. They lived by the Saraswati River but were forced to moved when there was a drought. These families branched out to Punjab, Gujarat, Goa, Maharashtra and various other locales where they continued to live. Those in Goa were once again forced to relocate to regions such as Mumbai, Coastal Karnataka & Kerala due to the Portuguese who embarked on their land. Their ancestors could be the so called "Aryans", who are said to have crossed over into Northern India from countries extending as far as Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The name is also in use among some Konkani Catholics who trace their ancestry to the Goud Saraswat Brahmins of Goa.[2]

People

See also

Surnames

Sri. Veera Vithal Pai, Kundapura (Freedom Fighter & pre-independence Congress leader of the region) Sri. Rajesh Pai, Mumbai Sri.Thonse Madhava Ananta Pai Manipal Sri.K.K.Pai Manipal CA. T.V. Mohandas Pai Sri.P.Dayananda Pai (Century Builders Bangalore) Sri.T.Ramdas Pai(M I T Manipal) Sri.T.Satish Pai(Udayavani Manipal) Sri.T.Sandhya S Pai(Udayavani Manipal)

References

  1. ^ GSB surnames - GSB Kerala.com
  2. ^ Sarasvati's Children: A History of the Mangalorean Christians, Alan Machado Prabhu, I.J.A. Publications, 1999, p. 137