Putnam or Puttnam is a surname. Notable people with the surnames include: Adam Putnam (born 1974), American politician Ann Putnam, Jr. (1679–1716), an accuser in the Salem witch trials Ashley Putnam (born 1952), American opera singer Benjamin Putnam (born 1981), American drag queen and comedian known as BenDeLaCreme Brenda Putnam (1890–1975), American sculptor Carleton Putnam (c. 1902–1998), American aviator, activist and author Charles Flint Putnam (1854–1882), US naval officer, polar explorer David Putnam (1898–1918), American World War I air ace David Puttnam (born 1941), British film producer Donald Fulton Putnam ( 1969), Canadian geographer, winner of Massey Medal Douglas Putnam (1838–1918), American military officer Edson A. Putnam (1832–1917), American politician Frank W. Putnam (1917–2006), American biologist Frederic Ward Putnam (1839–1915), American anthropologist, Harvard University George Putnam (1914–2008), American journalist George Haven Putnam (1844–1930), American book entrepreneur and publishing-family member George Palmer Putnam (1814–1872), American book entrepreneur George P. Putnam (1887–1950), American publisher, author, explorer, and publishing-family and aviation-family member Harvey Putnam (1793–1855), U.S. Congressman from New York Herbert Putnam (1861–1955), American library administrator and publishing-family member Hilary Putnam (1926–2016), American philosopher Howard Putnam (b. 1937), American travel business manager Israel Putnam (1718–1790), American general James Putnam (disambiguation), several people Mary Corinna Putnam Jacobi (1842–1906), American physician Michael Putnam (born 1983), American professional golfer Palmer Cosslett Putnam (1900–1984), American wind power pioneer and author, builder of the Smith–Putnam wind turbine Phelps Putnam (1894–1948), American poet Robert D. Putnam (born 1941), American political scientist Roger Putnam (1892–1972), American politician and industrialist Rufus Putnam (1738–1824), American soldier Ruth Putnam (disambiguation), several people Ruth Anna Putnam (1927–2019), American philosopher Seth Putnam (1968–2011), American musician Thomas Putnam (1651–1699), landowner and accuser in Salem, Massachusetts, during the Salem witch trials Tracy Putnam (1894–1975), medical researcher, co-discoverer of Phenytoin William Putnam (disambiguation), several people See also Putnam family, founded in America in the 17th century Putnam (disambiguation) List of places named for Israel Putnam