Chowdhury is a title of honour, usually hereditary, originating from the Indian subcontinent.[1][better source needed] It is an adaption from Sanskrit. During the Mughal rule, it was a title awarded to eminent people, while during British rule, the term was associated with zamindars and social leaders. The common female equivalent was Chowdhurani.[2] Many landlords under the Permanent Settlement carried this surname.[citation needed] Land reforms after the partition of India abolished the permanent settlement.[citation needed] In modern times, the term is a common South Asian surname for both males and females.[citation needed]
Pronunciation | chow-dhuree chaw-dree chow-dree |
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Origin | |
Meaning | Holder of four; four-way duties; four responsibilities |
Region of origin | Indian subcontinent |
Other names | |
Variant form(s) | Chaudhary, Chaudri, Choudhary, Chaudhry, Chowdary, Chowdhry, Chowdhary, Chaudry, Choudary, Choudhry, Chaudhuri, Chaudhari, Chudhry, Choudhari, Choudhury, Chowdhuri, Chowduri, Chaudhurani, Choudhurani, Chowdhurani, Chowdhrani, Choudhrani, Chaudhrani. |
"Chowdhury" is a term adapted from the Sanskrit word caturdhara, literally "holder of four" (four denoting a measure of land), from chatur ("four") and dhara ("holder" or "possessor").[3][unreliable source?] The name is a Sanskrit term denoting the head of a community or caste.[4][5][failed verification][unreliable source?] It was a title awarded to persons of eminence, including both Muslims and Hindus, during the Mughal Empire. It was also used as a title by military commanders responsible for four separate forces, including the cavalry, navy, infantry and elephant corps.[4] These people belonged to the zamindar families in British India.[6][verification needed]
In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the titular Rajas of the Bohmong Circle and Mong Circle have the surname Chowdhury.[7][8][9][10]
The Bengali Muslim Mirashdars[note 1] living in the former Kachari Kingdom were given titles by the Kachari Raja, which in modern-day acts as a surname for them.[12]
In Bihar, the Pasi are also known as the Chaudhary, a community traditionally connected with toddy tapping.[13]
Many Marwaris coming from Agarwal and Maheshwari sub community also use surname as Choudhary or Chaudhary.
Many Prajapati Kumhars also use surname as Chaudhary. They use prefix 'Ch' before the given name.[14]
Deshastha Brahmins and Kammas from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana who got this as a title during Qutb Shahis of Golconda and Nizams of Hyderabad also use Chowdhari or Chowdhury as their surnames.[15][16][17]
In the Punjab, Chaudhary is used by several Punjabi tribes. It is typically used as a prefix before the given name, often represented by the prefix 'Ch'.
Its alternate spellings include: Chaudhary, Chaudri, Chaudhri, Choudhary, Chaudhry, Chowdary, Chowdhary, Chaudry, Choudary, Choudhry, Chaudhuri, Chaudhari, Chudhry, Choudhari, Choudhury, Chowdhuri and Chowdury.[4] The female equivalent is Chaudhurani and alternate spellings include: Choudhurani, Chowdhurani, Chowdhrani, Choudhrani, Chaudhrani.
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