India is a country full of culture, festivals, traditions, and history. Their names and surnames both have a meaning behind them. Most surnames are passed down from their ancestors and are usually based on the “caste system”, while some keep their surnames based on their “gotra”.
A person’s surname tells you a lot about their background in India. Surnames also vary depending on the state that the person hails from. Here, we have gathered 150+ Indian Surnames, along with their meaning for you.
Popular Indian Surnames
There are many surnames like Jha, Chopra, Khanna, Malhotra, and so on that are very popular in India. Here we have listed out a few popular surnames from India.
1. Chopra
Chopra is an Indian surname that stems from Punjab. Chopra’s surname belongs to the descendants of Maharaja Chaupat Rai, who lost his life in a battle with Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni.
2. Jha
The surname “Jha” is derived from the Sanskrit word “Jhahar,” meaning “to recite” or “to chant.” It is believed that the Jha surname was given to those Brahmins who excelled in reciting and chanting the Vedas.
3. Jain
The surname Jain can mostly be found in Rajasthan and Gujrat. It is said to have derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Jaina’, which is derived from Jina, meaning “Conqueror of senses”.
4. Kulkarni
This surname originates from Maharashtra and some parts of Karnataka. It is made of two words; “Kula” meaning Family and “Karnika” meaning Archivist.
5. Khanna
The surname originates from Punjab. It is derived from the Sanskrit word “Shankan”. The surname is also found to be of the descendant of a certain Khan Chand, a clan in the Khatri community.
6. Malhotra
This surname is also based on the Khatri community clan belonging to Mehr Chand. It is also said to have derived from Mihra, meaning “sun”, “chief” or “master”.
7. Misra
Misra is said to have stemmed from the Sanskrit word mišra, originally meaning ‘mixed’, ‘manifold’. Later it was used as the title “honorable”.
8. Pandit
Pandit is another word for Hindu priest. The surname Pandit belongs to Indian and Nepalese Brahmin surname, and means “Scholar”.
9. Kaur
Kaur in Punjabi means “Princess”, and is mostly used by Sikh women.
10. Sinha
Sinha originates from the Eastern part of India, and means “Lion”. This surname belongs to the Kayastha and Bhumihar communities in India.
11. Patel
Gujarati origin surname Patel translates as “Head man” or “Village chief”. The name was first given to those who were in leadership positions.
12. Shah
This surname in Gujrat and Rajasthan region means “merchant”. The surname means “honest” or “good” in Sanskrit, and is derived from the word “Sadhu”.
13. Deshmukh
The surname Deshmukh is said to be a combination of two Sanskrit words; “Deśa” meaning land and country, and “Mukha” meaning head or chief. This surname means “Head of a district”.
14. Das
This surname comes from the Sanskrit word “Dasa”, meaning “servant”. Das means “Devotee or Servant of God”.
15. Dubey
The Hindu Brahmin surname Dubey is mostly used by Brahmin in North India. This surname means ”One who knows two Vedas”
16. Arora
Arora is said to have derived from the word “Aur”, meaning “Something else”.
17. Sharma
The Hindu Brahmin surname Sharma is said to have derived from the Sanskrit word “Sarman”, meaning “Joyfulness”, “Comfort” and “Happiness”.
18. Gandhi
The surname Gandhi is an Indian Occupational Surname meaning “Perfume seller”. In Gujarati, Gandhi means “grocer” or “pharmacist”. The surname also belonged to “Mahatma Gandhi”.
19. Bakshi
Bakshi is a surname that derives from the Persian word for “Paymaster”. It was originally the title used for an official who distributed wages.
20. Singh
Derived from the Sanskrit word “Simha”, the surname Singh means “Lion”.
21. Pandey
This surname is likely to be derived from the Sanskrit word “Pandita”, meaning “Scholar”. The surname Pandey mostly belongs to the Hindu Brahmins of Northern and Central parts of India.
22. Sahu
The surname Sahu is said to originate from the word “Sahukar”, meaning “Financially very strong person”.
23. Makwana
The surname Makwana simply refers to the ancient Hindu saint Markandey.
24. Anand
This surname belongs to the Kshatriya caste, and is derived from the Sanskrit word “Aananda”, meaning “Joy”, “Bliss” or “Happiness”.
25. Khurana
The Hindu and Sikh surname “Khurana” is based on the clan name of the Arora Community.
26. Bajaj
This surname stems from the Punjabi word “bajaj”, and the Arabic word “bazzaz” which means “Clothier”, and was given to someone who sells clothes.
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Common Indian Surnames
Here you will find a list of common surnames that we will find in India.
27. Sakxena
Indian surname Saxena is commonly found in the Northern and Central parts of India. The surname is said to have derived from the Sanskrit word “Sakhisena” which means “Friend of the Army”.
28. Joshi
Derived from the Sanskrit word “Jyotishi”, Joshi is a common surname found in India and Nepal. This surname translates as “Astrologer”.
29. Khatri
Khatri is derived from the Sanskrit word “Ksatriya” which means “Member of the Warrior Class”
30. Varma
Varma surname is derived from the Sanskrit word ”Varman”, meaning “Armor” which means “Protection”.
31. Yadav
This caste stems from the Sanskrit word “Yadava”, meaning “Descendant of Yadu” as Yadu was a legendary Hindu king. Yadavs can mostly be found in Northern India.
32. Choudhury
Choudhury surname stems from the Sanskrit word “Caturdhara” which means “Holder of four; pieces of Land”.
33. Parekh
The surname, Parekh denotes “Assayer” in Gujarati. It is usually given to goldsmiths, and derived from the Sanskrit word “Pariksaka”.
34. Agrawal
The descendants of King Agrasen have the surname “Agrawal”. Agrawal surname simply translates as “Children of Agrasan” or “People from Agroha”
35. Modi
Modi is an occupational surname that means “Grocer grain merchant”.
36. Puri
The word puri in Punjabi means ‘small town’, but it is unsure if this meaning is related to the surname or not.
37. Gupta
The surname Gupta derives from the Sanskrit word “Goptr”, meaning “Guardian”, “Protector” or “Governor”.
38. Khan
Khan is a Muslim surname and means ”Chief” or “Ruler”. Khan was originally an honorary title but now is widespread as a surname in Muslim communities.
39. Acharya
Acharya derives from the Sanskrit word “Acarya”, meaning “Spiritual guide or Teacher”.
40. Pujari
Pujari is of Indian origin and is an occupational title that means “Priest”.
41. Rathore
Rathore is the name of a Rajput clan that was adopted by the Teli community.
42. Bhalla
The surname Bhalla is derived from “Sanskrit”, and means “Auspicious”.
43. Devi
Devi derives from Sanskrit, and translates as “Goddess”. This surname is used by Females only.
44. Khatun
Khatun is a Muslim female surname used widely in India by the Muslim communities, meaning “Honorable women”.
45. Shastri
Shastri is a Sanskrit derivation, and translates as “one who has all the knowledge of Shastra’s”.
46. Dewan
Derived from Arabic dīwān “royal court”, or “treasury”, this surname means “status name for a treasurer or court official”.
47. Dutta
Dutta is derived from the Sanskrit word “Datta”, and means ”Given”. Dutta is also believed to have a connection with the Hindu deity, “Dattatreya”.
48. Gill
Gil is a Punjabi surname and is said to have derived from the Punjabi word “gil”, meaning “Moisture”. Gill also means ”Prosperity”.
49. Rana
Rana is a title used by Rajput clans, and translates as ”King”.
50. Garg
Garg is a Hindu and Jain surname based on the ancient Hindu sage. Garg also is a Gotra of the Agrawal community.
51. Batra
The surname Batra is based on the clan of the Arora community.
52. Mehta
Mehta comes from the word “Mehta”, meaning chief, and is derived from the Sanskrit word “Mahita” which translates as ”Great” or “Praised”.
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South Indian Surnames
Surnames in South India are different than that of other parts of India. They are difficult to pronounce in most cases. Some of the South Indian Surnames are listed below:
53. Chettiar
Chettiar is a title used mostly in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka by Traders and Merchants. Chettiar also refers to the group of people who originated from Chettinad.
54. Anthony
The surname, Anthony derives from the given name “Anthony”, and is popular in the Christian communities in South India.
55. Balasubramanian
Balasubramanian is derived from Sanskrit, and means “Child Subrahmanya”. The surname is a combination of two words; Bala meaning “child” and Subramanian meaning “dear to Brahmins”.
56. Reddy
Reddy is derived from the Telugu word “Reddi”, and translates as “Village headman”.
57. Menon
Menon is derived from the words “Menavan” or “Melavan”, meaning “Exalted person”.
58. Iyengar
Iyengar is a Tamil Brahmin surname, which translates as “sage priest lord”.
59. Iyer
Iyer is a Tamil Brahmin surname from the Tamil word “Aiyar”, which is a title of respect.
60. Vishwakarma
Vishwakarma is a cast, that is said to have descended from the God of Architecture, Vishwakarma.
61. Udayar
Udayar is a Tamil surname, which means “Land” or ”Professor”.
62. Thevar
Thevar surname people are mostly found in Tamil Nadu state, and the surname is translated as divine-natured people.
63. Nadar
Nadar surname is said to have derived from the Nelamaikkarars who are the aristocrats of the Shanar community.
64. Mudaliar
This is a Tamil surname given to high-ranking military officers and their descendants during the Chola empire rule.
65. Kalinga
Kalinga was used to refer to natives from Kalinga in ancient days. They are also said to be cultivators.
66. Pillai
The surname Pillai can be primarily found in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Orissa and translates to “Prince”
67. Nair
The surname Nair is said to be taken from the Malayalam word “Nayar”, meaning “Leader lord”. In ancient times, Nayars were regarded as protectors of land”.
68. Achari
This surname is given to people belonging to the Vishwakarma caste and is used by Vishwabrahmins in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala.
69. Kadamba
Kadamba is a family name that belongs to the Kadamba Dynasty or descendants of the Kadamba Dynasty.
70. Hegde
71. Nayar
Nayar comes from Malayalam “Nayar”, meaning “Leader lord”.
72. Kuruba
Kuruba is an occupational surname, derived from the word Kuri, meaning Sheep. Kuruba hence refers to “Shepherd”.
73. Chari
Chari is a surname given to people of Vishwakarma caste. They are the community of artists in Goa, who also are the Hindu carpenter.
74. Gowda
Gowda is mostly used in South and North Karnataka, in a few places. Gowda is used to refer to the administrative head of a village.
75. Raghu
76. Naidu
The surname Naidu is derived from the Tamil word “Nayakudu”. and translates as “Leader” or ”chief”. This surname is usually used by the Telugu community.
77. Akula
Akula is a surname that is mostly used in Andhra Pradesh and is of Sanskrit origin. This surname stems from the land clearing and settling activities, and means “without lineage”.
78. Ghosh
Gosh is an Indian surname, belonging to the Kayastha. The surname Ghosh derives from the Sanskrit word ghoṣa which means “cowherd”.
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North East Indian Surnames
Northeast consists of 7 sister states, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura, and one brother state, Sikkim. Some of the surnames from Northeast India are listed here.
79. Lepcha
The surname can be found in Sikkim and Nepal and is said to be a variation of the Nepalese word “Lepche” which means “vile speakers” or “inarticulate speech”.
80. Basumatary
This surname is found among the Boro people in Northeast India. The surname comes from the word “Basumati-aroi”, which translates as “Earth-folk”.
81. Bhutia
Bhutia people are said to have originated from Tibet and speak Drenjongke or Sikkimese.
82. Subba
The surname Subba is commonly found in Nepal, Northeast India, and Bhutan. Subba actually is an honor given by the Nepalese Kings to Limbu village chiefs.
83. Rai
The surname Rai is said to have been derived from the Sanskrit word Raja, meaning King, prince, or chief. Hence, the Rai surname represents “Royalty and Nobility”.
84. Yurenjam
Yurenjam is a surname that belongs to the Meitei family and lives in Manipur.
85. Bahadur
This surname originates from the Nepalese community and literally translates as “Brave” or “Valiant”.
86. Roy
Roy is a variation of the surname Rai, which translates to “Royalty and Nobility”, and means “King”.
87. Gogoi
This surname originates from the Ahom word “Gogoi”, meaning “Younger brother” and was granted by the Ahom king to near and dear ones to the Ahom Royal family.
88. Mosahary
This surname belongs to the Boro people of Northeast India, and means “Tiger-folk”. The Sanskrit term for Mosahary is “Baghlary”.
89. Deka
Deka is a surname found in Assam that refers to “youth or young” and belongs to the Kolita community people.
90. Thapa
Thapa is a surname that is used by the Gorkhali community of India and Nepal, and is translated as “Warrior”.
91. Tamang
Tamang is a family name that can be found in Nepal, India, and Bhutan. In Tibet, Ta means “Horse” and ”Mang” means “Traders”. This surname means “Horse Traders” and the Tamang community usually speak the Tibeto-Burman language.
92. Abujam
Abujam is used to represent the Meitei family who reside in Manipur.
93. Boruah
Boruah is a common Assamese surname and is associated with someone who is Assamese.
94. Saikia
Saikia was a surname given by the King of the Ahom dynasty to someone who collects taxes and also takes care of 100 people.
95. Hazarika
Hazarika is an occupational surname based on administrative position, and mostly belonging to the Ahom, Chutia, and Koch ethnic groups.
96. Boro
This surname is used by the Boro people, mainly residing in the Assam and Meghalaya regions. The surname Boro means “Great people”.
97. Biswas
This is a tile, which can also be seen being used as a surname and means “Trustworthy”.
98. Reang
Reang refers to the Tripuri clan from the state of Tripura.
99. Talukdar
The surname Talukdar is said to have come from the Mughals. Talukdar represents landholders who are responsible for collecting taxes from a ”taluk; an estate”.
100. Konyak
Konyak refers to the largest Naga ethnic groups found in some districts of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Nagaland.
101. Limbu
Limbu is made of two words, Li meaning “arrow” and Bu meaning “bow”. This surname can be found in Nepal and Northeast India and relates to ancestors being hunters.
102. Adhikari
Adhikari is a surname that is found in Nepalese and Indian communities and translates as “Officer”.
103. Pradhan
Pradhan is a title which refers to as “chief” and was adopted by descendants of the Newar community who had immigrated from Nepal to Northeast India.
104. Phukan
Phukan surname denotes a Paik officer and is said to have originated from Assam. This surname is now being used by their descendants.
105. Basnet
Basnet is a surname belonging to the Khasas of Nepal and India and is commonly found among the Jharra Chhetri community.
Ancient Indian Surnames
Many surnames in India come from their ancient roots. Some arise from the “Rishimuni” name, while some are based on the Sanskrit Vedas. Here we have enlisted a few ancient Indian Surnames for you.
106. Awasthi
Brahmin surname Awasthi is derived from Vedi sage Agastya who performed ”Awasthya yagya”.
107. Bajpai
In Vedic times, Bajpai referred to the group of Brahmins who could perform Vajpeya Yagya.
108. Arya
Arya stems from the Sanskrit origin, and translates as ”Honorable man”. Arya also is the name of the Jat clan in Punjab.
109. Goswami
A combination of two words makes up the surname “Goswami”. Go means “world” and Swami means “lord”, hence means “Lord of the world.”
110. Kashyap
Kashyap is originally a “Gotra”, and is related to Maharishi Kahshyapa. It has been used as a surname by the people who follow Maharishi Kashyap.
111. Bharadwaj
The name, Bharadwaj belonged to the Ancient sage, Maharishi Bharadwaj, and now is used as a surname by people who follow Maharishi Bharadwaj. Bharadwaj also is a Gotra in the Hindu community.
112. Bhatt
Bhatt is a Kashmiri Pandit surname. And in Sanskrit, Bhatt means “Teacher”.
113. Vashistha
The name Vashistha belonged to the Ancient sage, Maharishi Vashistha, and now is used as a surname by people who follow Maharishi Vashistha.
114. Ganguly
Ganguly comes from the Sanskrit word “Gangopadhyaya”, meaning “Teacher from the village of Ganga”.
115. Bedi
Bedi derives from the Sanskrit word “Vedi”, which translates as “One who knows the Vedas”. Bedi also is the name of the clan in the Khatri community.
116. Tripathi
Tripathi surname is used to refer to someone who has studied the “three Vedas”
117. Agnihotri
Agnihotri is derived from the Sanskrit word “Agnihotra”. Agnihotra is translated as Healing fire, and Agnihotri is someone who maintained the sacred healing fire.
118. Trivedi
Trivedi in Sanskrit means “One who knows the three Vedas”. The surname combines two words, Tri meaning “Three” and Vedi refers to the sacred knowledge, “Vedas”.
119. Pathak
Pathak is used to referring to someone who chants the Vedic Shastras and means “Teacher preceptor”.
120. Upadhyay
This surname originates from Sanskrit and is formed from the combination of two words, Upa meaning “with under” and Adhyaya meaning “studying”, and translates as “Teacher”.
121. Bhargava
Bhargava surname comes from the Sanskrit word, and is used to denote the “Descendant of the great sage, Bhrigu”.
122. Dikshit
The surname Dikshit is derived from the Sanskrit word “Dikshya”, and means “Someone who provides knowledge about Vedic Dharma”.
123. Chaturvedi
Chaturvedi surname refers to “someone who has the knowledge of all the four Vedas”.
124. Atri
Atri was the name of an ancient sage, Maharishi Atri. Atri is actually a Gotra but now has been adopted as a surname by the devotees of Maharishi Atri.
125. Vaidya
Vaidya is a Sanskrit word and was used to refer to “Doctor” or “Physician” in the ancient days.
126. Balakrishnan
Balakrishnan is a surname from Kerala and Tamil Nadu, referring to “Child Krishna”, and is derived from the given name “Bala Krishna”.
Other Indian Surnames
Some other Indian Surnames as listed here.
127. Apte (Those who live beside the orchid Tree)
128. Nagarjan (Cobra King)
129. Bhagat (Devotee)
130. Mahto (Leader of the Village)
131. Mukherjee (Teacher)
132. Amin (Honest/Trustworthy)
133. Damani (Trading Community Surname)
134. Mahajan (Banker/Big Person)
135. Tandon (Sun)
136. Waghdare (One who catches Tiger)
137. Oberoi (One who collects Octroi)
138. Nai (Barber)
139. Qassab (Butcher)
140. Kapoor (Camphor/ Saffron)
141. Rajput (Ruler)
142. Saini (Head of the Army)
143. Thakur (Thakkura; idol, deity)
144. Seth (Banker or Merchant)
145. Velama (Agricultural Laborers)
146. Warsi (The loveable one)
147. Undirmare (One who kills mice)
148. Zaveri (Jeweller)
149. Telaga (Agricultural Laborers)
150. Sinha (Lion)
151. Shukla (Radiance of Sun)
152. Basu (Name of Lord Vishnu)
153. Dubashi (One who is Bilingual)
154. Bal (Strength/Power)
155. Gairola (Royal Astrologers)
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