Mehta

Mehta is an Indian surname and may be derived from the Sanskrit word "Mahita", meaning 'Great', or 'Highly praised', or from the Tamil word "Mehthagu", which means "Worthy of respect", or "Your Excellency." It is often used to denote the Chief, Head or Thakur of a village or locality. It is found among several Indian communities, including Hindus, Jains, Parsis, Sindhis, and Sikhs. Among Hindus, it is used by a wide range of castes and social groups, including Brahmins, Kayasthas, Rajputs and Bania (caste) .[1]

Distribution in India

People with this surname are native to North and Western regions of India, including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra (Mumbai).[1]

As surname used by Brahmins

Among Brahmins, Mehta surname is popularly used by Anavil Brahmins and Nagar Brahmins of Valsad and Surat regions of Gujarat. In the Gujarati language, the term was used to address teachers and accountants, becoming associated with these professions. Mohyal Brahmins of Punjab region (Vaid sub-clan), Bhumihar Brahmins of Eastern India, Kayasthas of Bihar, Kashmiri Pandits settled in many Northern states of India and other Brahmin communities also use Mehta as their surname.

As surname used by Rajputs

Mehta is also a Rajput clan name in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. They served as nobles, ministers and bureaucrats under the Katyuri Kings and Chand Kings of Uttarakhand. People having this surname are native to Almora, Bageshwar and Nainital districts of Uttarakhand.

In Rajasthan, Mehta was originally used as a term of respect applied to administrative office holders and bureaucrats of Rajputana kings. Among Rajputs, it is used as both title and surname by Dewans (ministers and nobles) of Bikaner State and many other states of Rajputana and are considered direct descendants of the Suryavanshi Chauhan Dynasty. The Dewans and Chief Ministers of the Bikaner State were:

  • 1460–1465 Bachhraj Bothra (Mantri-Dewan / Jodhpur) / Rao Jodha
  • 1465–1505 Bachhraj Bothra (Founding Dewan / Bikaner) / Rao Bika
  • 1505–1526 Karam Singh Bothra Bachhawat (Descendants of Bachhraj were known as Bachhawats) / Rao Nar Singh and Rao Lunkaran
  • 1571–1591 Mehta Karam Chand Bachhawat (Title of Mehta granted by Emperor Akbar) / Rao Kalyan Mal and Raja Rai Singh
  • 1619–1620 Mehta Bhag Chand Bothra Bachhawat / Raja Sur Singh
  • 1619–1620 Mehta Lakshmi Chand Bothra Bachhawat / Raja Sur Singh
  • 1735 – February 1751: Mehta Bakhtawar Singh (1st time) (b. 1707 – d. 1779)
  • 1752–1756: Mehta Bakhtawar Singh (2nd time) (s.a.)
  • 1756 – December 1757: Mehta Prithvi Singh
  • 1757–1762: Mehta Bakhtawar Singh (3rd time) (s.a.)
  • September 1765 – 1779: Mehta Bakhtawar Singh (4th time) (s.a.)
  • 1779–178.: Mehta Swaroop Singh
  • 178.–1787: Mehta Thakursi
  • 1787–1791: Mehta Madho Rao
  • 1794–1805: Mehta Rao Sahib Singh Gun Roop
  • April 1815 – February 1816: Mehta Bhomji
  • February 1816 – 1828: Abhai Singh Mehta
  • 1853–1853: Leeladhar Mehta
  • 1868: Sheo Lal Mehta

As surname used by Banias

Among Oswals, Porwal Banias, and Punjabi Khatris, Mehta is a clan name.[1]

It is used as Surname by the Khatri community including Aroras of Punjab, the Lohana and Sindhi community of Western Gujarat and Sindh, the Multani community of Multan and Jains of Maharashtra and Mumbai.

As surname by other social groups

Mehta is also seldomly used as Surname by Sikh community of Punjab, Jat people (Muhta) of Haryana, Dhakad community of Rajasthan, Koiri community of Bihar, Kayastha community of Bihar, Jain and Maratha community of Maharashtra and Mumbai and rich land owning businessmen and zamindars of Madhya Pradesh.

Notable Mehtas

Notable individuals with this surname include:

References
  1. Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4
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