The surnames of Punjabis often show where their ancestors came from. Punjabis are known for being brave and hospitable, which is reflected in their surnames or last names. These surnames or last names can come from the geography, job, or ancestral group within the Punjabi community.
The main communities in Punjab are the Khatri (made up of merchants and warriors), the Arora (mostly merchants), and the Jatt (mostly landlords). Many Punjabi surname or last names come from these communities.
This article includes unique famous Punjabi surname or last names along with their meanings and backgrounds.
Famous Punjabi Surnames Or Last Names With Meanings
- Ahluwalia
This Punjabi surname comes from a village called ‘Ahlu’ near Lahore. The last name also includes the common Punjabi suffix ‘walia.’
- Ahuja
Ahuja is a Punjabi surname that comes from a father’s first name, meaning it refers to the family members of someone named Ahu.
- Anand
The Punjabi surname ‘Anand’ likely comes from the founder of the Anand clan in the Khatri community.
- Aneja
This Punjabi surname comes from a group of people in the Arora community.
- Arora
The Punjabi surname Arora comes from a place called ‘Aror,’ which is now known as Rohri in Pakistan. It refers to people who came from this ancient city.
- Attwal/Atwal
The Punjabi surname Attwal/Atwal comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Attalika,’ which means ‘high hill-tops.’ The surname Attwal originates from a Jatt clan in the Punjab region.
- Babbar
This Punjabi surname comes from the group name ‘Babbar’ in the Jatt community.
- Bajaj
This Punjabi surname comes from a Punjabi term meaning ‘clothier.’ This last name is commonly used among the Punjabi Arora and Khatri community.
- Bajwa
The Punjabi surname ‘Bajwa’ comes from Persian and originally means a hawk or a falcon.
- Basra
The Punjabi surname Basra likely comes from a place name and describes people whose relatives moved from Basra, a city in Iraq.
- Batra
The Punjabi surname Batra comes from a group within the Arora community.
- Bedi
This Punjabi surname comes from the Sanskrit word ‘vedi,’ which means someone who knows the Vedas. It is also the name of a group in the Khatri community.
- Behl
The Punjabi surname ‘Behl’ comes from Sanskrit and means ‘strong.’ It is also the name of a clan in the Khatri community.
- Bhalla
This Punjabi surname comes from the Sanskrit word ‘bhalla,’ which means ‘bear’ or ‘auspicious.’ This surname is frequently found among Punjabi Khatris and Sikhs.
- Bhasin
The Punjabi surname ‘Bhasin’ comes from the Sanskrit word for ‘the sun.’ This last name belongs to a specific group within the Khatri community.
- Bhatia
This Punjabi surname probably originates from a group of landlords or businesspeople in western to northwestern India.
- Bhatti
This Punjabi surname comes from the Sanskrit word ‘bhatta,’ which means ‘lord.’ It could also come from people who were originally from a place called Bhattiana, located in Punjab and Haryana.
- Bindra
This Punjabi surname has roots from the Sanskrit word ‘Bindranath,’ which means ‘high hill-tops.’ This surname is commonly found among Khatris and Jatts.
- Brar
This Punjabi surname comes from a group within the Jatt community.
- Chawla
This Punjabi surname belongs to a specific group within the Arora community. It is also commonly found among the Khatri and Jatt communities.
- Chopra
This Punjabi surname probably indicated that they were part of a group of merchants in the Khatri community.
- Choudhary
The Punjabi surname Choudhary comes from the words ‘chadhur’ and ‘dhar,’ meaning ‘four’ and ‘to own’ or ‘possess.’ This last name likely refers to someone who owns or possesses four measures of land. This Punjabi surname was often used by zamindars or landlords.
- Deol
Deol is a popular Punjabi surname among Punjabi Jatt people. This last name originated from a warrior clan and comes from a place called Diraval.
- Dhillon
The Punjabi surname Dhillion likely comes from a specific group within the Jatt community.
- Dosanjh
The Punjabi surname Dosanjh is often found among Jatt Sikhs and likely comes from the village of Dosanjh in Punjab. Dosanjh also signifies a coming together of two things.
- Duggal
This Punjabi surname comes from the name of a group in the Khatri community.
- Gambhir
The Punjabi surname Gambhir is derived from a group within the Arora community.
- Ghai
The Punjabi surname Ghai is frequently found among Punjabi Khatri people and likely comes from the name of a Khatri clan.
- Gill
This Punjabi surname probably comes from a clan in the Jatt community. The last name ‘Gill’ probably comes from a word that means either ‘moisture’ or ‘prosperity.’
- Grover
The Punjabi surname Grover comes from the word ‘Guruvara/Gorovare,’ which comes from the Sanskrit word ‘guru’ meaning ‘a teacher or an instructor.’ This surname is popular among Khatri, Jatt, and Sikh groups.
- Gulati
This Punjabi surname comes from the Arora community, but where it came from is unclear. It could have been the name of a clan.
- Handa
The Punjabi surname Handa most likely comes from a word that might mean a cooking pot. The last name Handa is frequently found among the Khatri group of people.
- Hans
The Punjabi surname ‘Hans’ comes from the Arora community and is based on the Sanskrit word that translates to ‘a swan.’
- Juneja
Juneja is a Punjabi surname from the Arora group. It probably originated from a tribe or clan from the Sindh region, which is now part of Pakistan.
- Kakkar
This Punjabi surname is derived from the name of a family within the Bahri section of the Khatri group.
- Kamra
This Punjabi surname comes from a Sanskrit term that translates to ‘beautiful.’ The last name identifies a group of people within the Arora community.
- Kapoor
Kapoor is a common Punjabi surname for Punjabi Khatris. The name Kapoor comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Karpura,’ which means ‘camphor.’
- Kaushal
This Punjabi surname probably comes from people who were descended from a wise person named Kaushal. The name Kaushal originates from Sanskrit and means ‘efficient’ and ‘competence.’
- Khanna
It is a common Punjabi surname among the Khatri community in Punjab.
- Khurana
It is the Punjabi surname of a group within the Arora community.
- Kohli
The Punjabi surname Kohli, originating from the Khatri community, is a well-known Punjabi last name.
- Malhotra
The Punjabi surname Malhotra comes from the last name ‘Mehrotra,’ which originally derived from ‘Mehra,’ meaning a leader or a master. The surname Mehra traces back to Mehr Chand, the founder of the Mehra group in the Khatri community.
- Malik
The Punjabi surname Malik comes from Punjab and originally meant someone who is a ruler or king.
- Mehta
This Punjabi surname originated from the Sanskrit word ‘Mahita’ meaning ‘appreciation.’ It is also possible that the surname Mehta comes from the word ‘Mehta,’ meaning ‘chief.’
- Nanda
The Punjabi surname Nanda is often found among Punjabi Khatri people, and it comes from a group name within the Khatri community.
- Narang
The Punjabi surname ‘Narang’ comes from the Sanskrit word ‘naranga,’ which means ‘orange.’ This surname is commonly found among people from the Arora community.
- Narula
This Punjabi surname comes from the name of a family in the Arora group. This last name is also popular among Sikhs.
- Puri
This Punjabi surname relates to people who were originally from the village of Puri in Punjab. This last name is commonly seen in the Khatri community.
- Sagar
This Punjabi surname comes from the ancient Indian language Sanskrit, where it means ‘ocean.’ People who belong to the Khatri community often have this surname.
- Sahni/Sawhney
The Punjabi surname Sahni/Sawhney probably comes from a word that means ‘companion’ or ‘commander.’
- Sehgal
It is the Punjabi surname of a family group in the Khatri community.
- Singh
The Punjabi surname ‘Singh’ comes from a Sanskrit word that means ‘lion.’ In the past, Singh was a title used by warriors purely for decoration. However, as Sikhism became more popular, all Sikhs were required to have the surname Singh.
- Sobti
This Punjabi surname used to be the name of a group in the Punjabi Khatri community.
- Sodhi
This Punjabi surname comes from a Sanskrit term that means ‘someone who has been patient.’ This last name is common among the Khatri group and also among Sikhs.
- Soni
The Punjabi surname Soni originates from a Khatri clan name and is commonly used among Punjabi Khatris.
- Sood
This Punjabi surname probably comes from the words ‘soot’ or ‘sood,’ which mean ‘interest’ or ‘profit.’ This last name probably indicated that the person was part of a group of businesspeople or people who bought and sold goods.
- Suri
The Punjabi surname ‘Suri’ comes from the Sanskrit word for ‘a priest’ or ‘the Sun.’ It is commonly used by people in the Khatri community.
- Talwar
This Punjabi surname comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Taravari,’ which translates to ‘a sword.’ This last name belongs to a group within the Khatri community.’
- Tandon
Originally, it was the last name of a group of fighters within the Khatri community.
60 Taneja
This Punjabi surname comes from a Sanskrit word that means ‘blade of grass.’ Taneja is the name of a group within the Arora community.
- Thapar
Thapar was originally the Punjabi surname of a group of people in the Khatri community.
- Tuli
Originally, this Punjabi surname belonged to a group of warriors within the Khatri community.
- Vij
Vij is a common Punjabi surname for Punjabi Khatris, and it likely comes from the name of a particular group or family.
- Vohra
This Punjabi surname comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Vyuha,’ which means ‘battle array.’ This last name is often used by Punjabi Khatris and Sikhs.
- Wahi
The Punjabi surname Wahi comes from a Khatri group name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Punjabi surnames or last names show the diverse cultural background of the Punjab region. Many Punjabis have moved to different countries, taking their unique last names with them. This has sparked interest in the origins of these names. Our post gives a peek into the fascinating history and roots of Punjabi surnames or last names, some of which have been around for a long time. Common last names in the Punjabi community include Wadhwa, Sandhu, and Sethi. Exploring these names and where they come from can enhance your knowledge and appreciation of Punjabi culture.
