Surname Choudhury - Meaning and Origin
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Choudhury: What does the surname Choudhury mean?
The last name Choudhury is a unique surname mainly found among the Hindu population of India and Bangladesh. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "chaturdhara" and the Bengali word "choddhur," both meaning 'holder of four.' The four most commonly held things were land, water, servants, arms, or horses. In medieval India, it was a title of respect given to officers of the king's court or to a high ranking aristocracy.
The people who held this title generally belonged to upper caste backgrounds such as Brahmins and Rajputs. They could be identified by their traditional dress and language. Their family names often resemble the caste name they belonged to such as "Choudhury," "Chaurasia," or "Chitale."
The Choudhurys of today may have come from rural villages or from the larger towns and cities of India and Bangladesh. They are generally well-educated and strive for success in every aspect of life. This success is reflected in their current professional and economic status. As well, they have a tremendous respect for their culture and traditions.
The Chaudhury's still strive to uphold the values held by their ancestors — such as loyalty, integrity, honor, and a commitment to hard work — to this day. They are respected members of society and are looked upon as the true custodians of an ancient lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisChoudhury: Where does the name Choudhury come from?
The last name Choudhury is a common name in South Asia. It is most commonly seen in the Indian subcontinent, including India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. It is a common name among Hindus, Muslims, and other South-Asian religions.
The Choudhury family can be traced back to the ancient Mughal era and the Bengal region. It is believed that they are descendants of the Indian ruling classes and emperors from pre- colonial times.
The Choudhury family is an influential community, especially in West Bengal, India. They are mostly landowners, have multiple business interests, and hold key roles in politics and society. The most famous member of this family is Rabindranath Tagore—the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.
The Choudhury name is still quite prevalent in many countries. In the United Kingdom, it is the 8th most common South Asian surname. It has also been trending in the United States, particularly in California, Massachusetts, New York, and Texas. In Canada, it ranks 20th and is particularly common in the Toronto area. In addition, the Choudhury surname is popular in Norway, with about 3000 individuals bearing the name.
The last name Choudhury remains a widely popular surname throughout South Asia, and in many other parts of the world. With its increasing prevalence, people bearing the Choudhury name are becoming a visible part of many cultures.
Variations of the surname Choudhury
The surname 'Choudhury' is of Indian origin with various derivatives and spellings. It holds two parts - 'Chowdhury' and 'Choudhry' - which are alternate spellings of the same word.
The 'Chowdhury' variant is derived from the title of a person, and historically anyone who has deserves the title or deemed worthy of it were given the last name of this origin. The literate meaning of the word is 'Headmaster'. It is believed to have come from Sanskrit 'Chaudhary', meaning four times superior, and is used to denote a leader or chief of a village. Similar spellings include Chowdary, Chowdhuri, Chuadhry, Chaudhari, Chaudry and Chowdry.
The 'Choudhry' variant is another popular version of the same surname which is of Arabic heritage and origin. Its origins date back to the Mughal era of India which brought Islamic customs and traditions with it. This variant is derived from an Arabic term 'Chaudhri' which translates to 'headman' or 'master of the four', and also means 'terror' or 'dreadful'. Its many other spellings include Choudhary, Choudhuri, Choudhary and Chaudhary.
Both variants of the surname Choudhury are quite popular in India and have been used, passed down, and evolved over the ages, spanning into many generations of our lineage today.
Famous people with the name Choudhury
- Preeti Choudhury: Indian film actress
- Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore: Indian Philosopher and Nobel Prize laureate
- Lydia Choudhury: UK based journalist.
- Minoo Choudhury: Indian Classical Musician
- Polina Anikeeva — Russian/Indian Singer and Entrepreneur
- Khondokar Mahbub Uddin: Bangladeshi politician
- Anal Choudhury: Bengali actress and film producer
- Soumitra Chatterjee: Indian film and stage actor
- Pritam Choudhury: Indian journalist and writer
- Bharat Choudhury: Classical tabla player