Putnam is a somewhat common surname. Despite the fact that it is common in England and New England, it is Flemish in origin. The original name was Puttenham, and that family had been in England since around 1100.

In the early 1600s, the time of immigration to the New World, one of these immigrants was a descendant of the Puttenham family, John Putnam, who immigrated from England to Salem Village around 1638. He was born in Aston Abbotts, Buckinghamshire. Israel Putnam, a general in the American Revolutionary War, was his great grandson.

Putnam is also the name of several places in the United States of America, all named for Israel Putnam:

• Putnam, Connecticut
• Putnam County, Florida (It is not certain as to whether this one was named for Israel Putnam. There is also a possibility that it was named for Benjamin A. Putnam, an officer in the First Seminole War and local Florida politician.)
• Putnam County, Georgia
• Putnam County, Illinois
• Putnam County, Indiana
• Putnam County, Missouri
• Putnam County, New York
• Putnam, New York (town)
• Putnam County, Ohio
• Putnam County, Tennessee
• Putnam County, West Virginia

Other people with the name "Putnam" include:

• Rufus Putnam, another general who was the half 1st cousin once removed of Israel Putnam
• Hilary Putnam, a philosopher.
• Robert Putnam, a political scientist.

The William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition is taken by North American undergraduate students. (William is also a descendant of the above immigrant John Putnam)

Putnam Investments is also the name of a mutual fund and investment company.

Putnam is also a publishing house owned by Pearson media conglomerate.