pannu

Pannu is a Punjabi surname found among people in the Punjab region of both India and Pakistan. It is used by Punjabi-speaking communities and is common in the broader Punjabi diaspora. The name is typically treated as a clan or family name and can be associated with specific lineages within communities such as Jat and Khatri, though its use spans multiple social groups. The etymology is not definitively documented, but it is widely regarded as a Punjabi naming tradition. Spelling variations occur with transliteration, including Panu, Punnu, and Punno, and it appears in different scripts as ਪੰਨੂ in Punjabi (Gurmukhi) and پنو in Urdu/Shahmukhi.

Distribution and usage are strongest in the Indian state of Punjab and in Pakistani Punjab, with communities bearing the surname present in other Indian states with Punjabi populations such as Haryana and Delhi. The name also appears among the Punjabi-speaking diaspora in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States.

Notable bearers of the surname include Taapsee Pannu, an Indian actress known for work in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu cinema. Her prominence reflects the visibility of the name in contemporary South Asian popular culture. Beyond a single celebrity, Pannu remains a common surname across Punjabi-speaking communities and their descendants worldwide.