Pai (surname)
| Pai | |
|---|---|
| Family name | |
| Pronunciation | Konkani: [pɵi] |
| Meaning | prakrit of Pati or "Lord" |
| Region of origin | India |
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".
Families with the surname Pai, are Saraswat Brahmins who speak the Konkani language. The Pai were mainly ledger keepers.[1]
The surname Pai comes from the word Konkani Prakit word paee meaning Lord.[2] 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 move 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 Gujarat, Coastal Karnataka & Kerala due to the Portuguese who embarked on their land.
The name is also in use among some Konkani Catholics who trace their ancestry to the Goud Saraswat Brahmins of Goa.[3]
People
- Ajit Pai, Indian cricketer
- Ammembal Subba Rao Pai, lawyer and founder of Canara Bank
- Anant Pai (1937–2011), noted educationist and creator of Indian comics
- M. Govinda Pai (1883–1963), poet
- T. M. A. Pai (1898 – 1978), banker and philanthropist
- Tonse Ramesh Upendra Pai (b. ?), Chairman of Maha Rashtra Apex Corporation Ltd
- T. A. Pai (1922–1981), banker and founder of T. A. Pai Management Institute
- Sant Bhadragiri Achuthadas Pai, renowned Kirtankar
References
- ↑ GSB surnames - GSB Kerala.com
- ↑ Mythic Society (Bangalore, India) (1992). The quarterly journal of the Mythic society (Bangalore)., Volume 83. The Society,. pp. Page 103.
- ↑ Sarasvati's Children: A History of the Mangalorean Christians, Alan Machado Prabhu, I.J.A. Publications, 1999, p. 137