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Mehta

Mehta is an Indian surname, derived from the Sanskrit word mahita meaning 'great' or 'praised'. It is found among several Indian religious groups, including Hindus, Jains, Parsis, and Sikhs. Among Hindus, it is used by a wide range of castes and social groups, including Khatris, Rajputs, Brahmins and Banias.[1]

As Surname Used By Brahmins

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Mehta surname is used by a variety of Brahmin communities. These include:- 1. Mohyal Brahmins Of Punjab 2. Anavil Brahmins Of Gujarat 3. Kashmiri Pandits Of Jammu

Among Mohyal Brahmins Of Punjab, Mehta is title given to rich land-owning brahmins who have given up their duties of performing rituals and have embraced other occupations. Mehta is used as surname by the Vaid sect of Mohyal Brahmins.

Among Anavil Brahmins Of Gujarat And Maharashtra, Mehta is a common surname used by the Vaishnavite sect of Anavil Brahmins (those who worship Vishnu, one of three major Gods’ in Hinduism.) [1]

As surname used by Rajputs

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Mehta is also a Rajput clan name in the Kumaon and Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, hilly terrains of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and western areas of Nepal. 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, eastern parts of Himachal, Jammu and Kashmir, and western Nepal. In Nepal, they come under the Chhetri varna and are considered chieftains of villages.[2]

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 Solar dynasty (Suryavanshi) and 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

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Among Oswal and Porwal Banias, Mehta is a clan name.[1]

As surname used by Khatris

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Among Khatris, Mehta is a clan name.[1]

Notable individuals

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Notable individuals with this surname include:

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-508137-4.
  2. ^ "Mehta Surname".
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