Surname Chowdhury - Meaning and Origin
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Chowdhury: What does the surname Chowdhury mean?
The last name Chowdhury is a very old name which originated in the Indian subcontinent. It is a surname which is a part of the aristocracy of the Bengal region and is believed to have originated from the ancient kingdom of Vanga (modern day Bangladesh). It is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘chaturdhara’ and this literally means ‘the holder of four’ and usually refers to the holders of four estates such as knowledge, protection, occupation, and charity.
The name Chowdhury denotes a high social status and a certain level of respect since it was only given to very prominent people like high-ranking warriors, ministers, and territorial nobles. They were considered wealthy and powerful and they usually owned large estates, and had servants and private armies at their command.
Today, the name Chowdhury is still primarily found among the Bengal region and is borne by Muslim and Hindu communities. It is still considered to denote a certain level of nobility. In modern times, the surname is popular in many parts of the world, with many of the descendants of the Chowdhury nobles finding their way out of the subcontinent to America, England, and other parts of the world.
Order DNA origin analysisChowdhury: Where does the name Chowdhury come from?
The last name Chowdhury is most commonly found in India, Bangladesh, and the surrounding region of South Asia. It is also found in countries where South Asians have migrated to, such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. Today, Chowdhury is the 28th most common surname in India and is concentrated in areas of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Tripura, Bihar, and Assam. It is believed to be derived from a title of honor given to maintain order and justice, so the name has symbolic significance. The Chowdhury's are a prestigious and influential community of landholders, and members are particularly associated with the Brahmin and Kayastha social groups. Within India, members of the Chowdhury clan are often respected for their scholarly and leadership qualities. With so many South Asians living in countries abroad, the last name Chowdhury is also found outside of South Asia. The Chowdhury's have played important roles in shaping the global diaspora of South Asia and have benefitted from the transnational ties that these migrations create.
Variations of the surname Chowdhury
The surname Chowdhury is a common title of honor used by people of South Asian descent and can be spelled in a variety of ways. In India, the name is typically spelled as Choudhary, Chowdhury, or Chaudhary. Outside of India, variations of Chowdhury include Chaudhry, Chagte, Chauhan, Chauhdhry, and Chaudri.
Choudhary is the popular spelling of the name in India, and comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Chaturdhara’, meaning the holder of four lands or proprietor of land. In earlier times, this title was used to denote a feudal lord or the head of a larger clan.
Chaudhry is the spelling used by British colonizers across the subcontinent. It is derived from the same root as Choudhary and has the same meaning.
Chauhan is a variant of the surname Choudhary which is popular mostly amongst Rajputs. This name is derived from the Sanskrit words ‘Chatur-Varna’, meaning four classes.
Choudhry or Chaudhry is an alternative spelling found among Hindus living in Pakistan and Bangladesh. This variation of the surname was initially spelled as Chaudhry, but some have since started spelling it as Choudhry in order to differentiate themselves from Muslim Chaudharies.
Chagte is another spelling of the surname which is predominantly attributed to the Gautam gotra of the Kshatriya Rajputs in India. The Gautam gotra is believed to have links to the Bisen Rajputs who were originally from Nepal.
Chaudri is a more modern spelling of the surname and is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Chatura’, which means having four sides or made up of four parts.
Overall, the surnames Chowdhury, Choudhary, Chaudhry, Chauhan, Choudhry, Chagte, and Chaudri all have the same meaning and are derived from the same root words in Sanskrit. While they may differ in spelling, all of these surnames are derived from the same origin.
Famous people with the name Chowdhury
- Pallab Sripad Chowdhury: Indian politician
- Bibek Debroy: Indian economist
- Sudipto Chowdhury: Indian poet
- Partha Chatterjee: Indian political theorist
- Sanjiv Chowdhury: Indian actor
- Anupam Roy: Indian music director
- Suchitra Sen: Indian actress
- Suresh Chowdhury: Indian writer
- Arundhati Roy: Indian author
- Satyajit Ray: Indian filmmaker
- Fazilatunnesa Mujib: Bangladeshi politician
- Sanjoy Chowdhury: Indian artist
- Tanay Chowdhury: Bangladeshi actor
- Junoon Chowdhury: Indian actor
- Priyadarshini Chowdhury: Indian entrepeneur
- Ammoonya Chowdhury: Bangladeshi politician
- Shirin Chowdhury: Bangladeshi author
- Priyashree Chowdhury: Indian cricketer
- Moniruzzaman Chowdhury: Bangladeshi actor
- Amar Chowdhury: Bangladeshi director
- Dibyendu Chowdhury: Bengali actor
- Subrata Chowdhury: Indian film maker
- Mahasweta Devi: Indian activist
- Suchandra Chowdhury: Indian artist
- Rituparna Sengupta: Indian actress