Kannan ( ta, கண்ணன்) is a Tamil male

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

. Due to a Tamil tradition of using

patronymic surname A patronymic surname is a surname originated from the given name of the father or a patrilineal ancestor. Different cultures have different ways of producing patronymic surnames. For example, early patronymic Welsh surnames were the result of th ...

s, it may also be a

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

for males and females. The name is derived from the

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

god Krishna, who is offered the epithet of Kannan in Tamil, meaning, "the one who is to be seen".

Etymology

The word ''Kannan'' might come from the Pali into Tamil during the classical period. In Pali, Kanha means dark or black, and the Sanskrit equivalent will be Kṛṣṇa ( Krishna). In Tamil-speaking regions, Lord Krishna will be called Kanna(or with a masculine ending Kannan).The word might also have a ancient Tamil root ``Kanha``காண் + ணா = காணா, which means invisibe to physical eyes. The Paramatma is represented as dark to indicate his presence beyond things you see with your eyes (non-materialistic nature).

Notable people

Given name

Michael Kannan Sundaresan, writer, guitarist, musician Michael may refer to: People * Michael (given name), a given name * Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael Given name "Michael" * Michael (archangel), ''first'' of God's archangels in the Jewish, Christian and ...

, American Eastern-Indian *

B. Kannan Bhimsingh Kannan (10 January 1951 – 13 June 2020) was an Indian cinematographer who worked in Tamil and Malayalam films. He was known for his association with Director Bharathiraja and was referred to as "Bharathirajavin Kangal" (Bharathiraja' ...

, Indian cinematographer *

K. Kannan Kuniuraman Kannan (sometimes spelt Kunjuraman Kannan), more popularly known as K. Kannan, is a Singaporean football forward who played for Singapore. He was in the Singapore squad in the 1984 Asian Cup. He also played for Jurong Town. He w ...

, Singaporean footballer * Kannan (music director), Indian film music composer *

Kannan Balakrishnan Kannan Balakrishnan (born 26 June 1964) is a classical musician and veena exponent from Chennai, India, in the Carnatic Music genre. He is also a vocalist and exponent of the instruments Mridangam, Suddha Madhalam and the Ganjira. He is also k ...

(born 1964), Indian musician * Kannan Iyer, Indian film writer and actor *

Kannan Soundararajan Kannan Soundararajan (born December 27, 1973) is an India-born American mathematician and a professor of mathematics at Stanford University. Before moving to Stanford in 2006, he was a faculty member at University of Michigan where he pursued ...

, Indian mathematician *

M. Kannan M. Kannan was an Indian politician and former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu. He was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly from Kandamangalam constituency as an Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate in 1977, and 1980 ...

, Indian politician *

P. Kannan P. Kannan ( – 16 September 2016) was an Indian politician and former Member of Parliament elected from Tamil Nadu. He was elected to the Lok Sabha as an All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate from Salem constituency in 1977 electio ...

, Indian politician from Tamil Nadu *

, Indian politician from Puducherry * R. Kannan (born 1975), Indian film director *

S. P. Kannan S. P. Kannan is an Indian politician and former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu. He was elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly as a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate from Anaicut constituency in the 1989 election T ...

, Indian politician * Srirangam Kannan (born 1952), Indian musician * Vedham Puthithu Kannan, Indian filmmaker

Surname

Biju C. Kannan Biju C. Kannan is an Indian film director who works in Malayalam films. Filmography * 2004 - '' Chayam'' * 2007 - ''Thadha'' * 2009 - ''Sakshi'' * 2012 - ''Kadha mouna mozhi'' * 2014 - ''Iruvazhi Thiriyunnidam'' References Malayalam fil ...

, Indian film director * Beena Kannan (born 1960), Indian businesswoman * Bharathi Kannan (born 1962), Indian film director * Embar Kannan (born 1975), Indian musician *

Kanal Kannan Kanal Kannan (born as V. Kannan) is an Indian actor, action choreographer and screenwriter who works in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi films. He has worked with actors Mammootty, Prithviraj , Unni Mukundan Unnikrishnan Mukund ...

, Indian film choreographer * Ravi Kannan R Indian oncologist and Padma Shri awardee * Ravindran Kannan (born 1953), Indian computer scientist * Siddharth Kannan, Indian broadcaster * Yaar Kannan, Indian film director

Other uses

Films

* '' Kannan En Kadhalan'', 1968 Tamil film * '' Kannan Varuvaan'', 2000 Tamil film

Places

Kannan Devan Hills Kannan Devan Hills is a large village located in Devikulam taluk of Idukki district in the Indian state of Kerala. The village of Kannan Devan Hills in Devikulam Taluk, was given on lease on 11 July 1877 by the Poonjar Thampuran to John D ...

, village in Kerala, India

References

{{Surname Tamil masculine given names