Bhullar surname: two Punjabi literary records

A family-name reference

Bhullar is a surname used in Punjabi communities. The Dictionary of American Family Names, reproduced by Ancestry, associates a Punjabi Sikh usage with a Jat clan. This brief classification is a reference about a name, not a documented family tree for every bearer. It does not determine an individual’s religion, language, caste, occupation or personal identity. A shared spelling cannot establish whether two people are closely related. People record and use names in different ways, so research into a particular family needs names, dates, places and sources specific to that family rather than a single surname entry.[1]

A writer of fiction

The Dhahan Prize profile identifies Jasbir Bhullar as a Punjabi writer whose work includes fiction and children’s literature. It describes his family’s connection to Bhullar Chilla in the Amritsar area, his service in the Indian Army and his study of Punjabi literature. The prize’s record of its inaugural awards lists his short-story collection Ek Raat Da Samunder as a 2014 runner-up. This profile and award announcement describe one individual’s public career, not the ancestry of everyone bearing the name. Romanized book titles can vary between records, so author and date can help locate an edition.[3]

Another literary record

The Sahitya Akademi lists Gurbachan Singh Bhullar’s Agni-Kalas for its 2005 Punjabi short-story award.[4]

Jasbir Bhullar and Gurbachan Singh Bhullar are separate writers, and their common surname does not demonstrate a family connection. The Dhahan profile and the award record offer two examples of Bhullar in Punjabi literary records. Readers researching relatives can compare first names, places and dates in original documents and family accounts before proposing a link. The Dhahan profile also gives a specific village connection and lists a named story collection, giving researchers concrete details to compare when checking a potential match.[2]