Puri (surname)

Puri is a Khatri surname with origins in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan.

Origin and etymology

The surname was derived from the Purus, the mythological Indo-Aryan tribe.

Buddha Prakash, Professor of History and of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, Director of the Institute of Indic Studies, said:

The Purus settled between the Asikni and the Parusni, whence they launched their onslaught on the Bharatas, and after the initial rebuff in the Dasarajna War, soon regrouped and resumed their march on the Yamuna and the Sarasvati and subsequently merged with the Bharatas, Some of their off-shoots lingered on in the Punjab and one of their scions played a notable part in the events of the time at Alexander's invitation. They probably survived in the Punjab under the name of Puri, which is a sub-caste of the Khatris.

Notable people

Bankers

• Aditya Puri, Managing Director, HDFC Bank Limited
• K. R. Puri, former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India

Businessmen

• Aroon Purie, Indian businessman and the founder & editor in chief of India Today
• Deepak Puri, founder of Moser Baer

Film actors

• Amrish Puri, Bollywood and Hollywood film actor
• Amrita Puri, Bollywood film actress
• Madan Puri, Bollywood film actor
• Om Puri, Bollywood and Hollywood film actor
• Pearl V Puri, Indian Television actor

Journalists

• Balraj Puri, journalist, writer and human rights activist

Politicians

• Hardeep Singh Puri, Indian cabinet minister
• Ranjeev Puri, American state representative

Singers

• Sanam Puri, Lead Vocalist of the Independent music band SANAM and Bollywood Singer
• Samar Puri, Guitarist in the band SANAM, popularly known as 'Flying Guitarist'. He is also the sibling of Sanam Puri.

Sports

• Indu Puri, eight-time national table tennis Champion and former international Indian Table Tennis Player. Arjuna Awarded
• Sunita Puri, a former member of the Indian Women's Hockey Team. Arjuna Awarded

See also

• List of Khatris