Pai is a surname from coastal Karnataka and Goa in India. It is found among Hindus of the Goud Saraswat Brahmin community. Families with the surname Pai, are Saraswat Brahmins who speak the Konkani language, but are mostly bilingual in Kannada, Marathi and Tulu. They were mainly Landlords.
The surname Pai comes from the Sanskrit word pati meaning Lord.
The name is also in use among some Konkani Catholics who trace their ancestry to the Goud Saraswat Brahmins of Karnataka and Goa.
The following is a list of notable people with last name Pai.
Ajit Pai, Indian cricketerAjit Varadaraj Pai, FCC chairmanAmmembal Subba Rao Pai, lawyer and founder of Canara BankAnant Pai (1937–2011), noted educationist and creator of Indian comicsG. Vasantha Pai (1921-2009), Senior Advocate - Madras High Court and Indian Supreme Court, Member of Legislative Council (MLC), Freedom FighterM. Govinda Pai (1883–1963), poet. P. Ananth Pai, First batch 1947 IAS, GM Indian Railways, Born Panemangalore 1923-1990
M. Kesava Pai (1879–1965), doctor, Rao Bahadur, OBE (Order of the British Empire awarded in 1932)M. Purushotham Pai (1906-1991), ICS, Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh, Chairman of SCCL, Board Member-Larsen & Toubro, Chairman of APRSTCT. M. A. Pai (1898 – 1978), banker and philanthropistTonse Ramesh Upendra Pai, Chairman of Maha Rashtra Apex Corporation LtdT. A. Pai (1922–1981), banker and founder of T. A. Pai Management Institute, Founder of Syndicate BankT.V. Mohandas Pai, Chartered AccountantRamdas Madhav Pai, Indian BusinessmanDevanna Pai, Freedom Fighter