Pronunciation | chow-dhuree chaw-dree chow-dree |
---|---|
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 title of honour, usually hereditary, originating from the Indian subcontinent.[1] 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]
"Chowdhury" is a term adapted from the Sanskrit words čatus "four-way, all-round" and dhurīya "undertaking a burden", denoting the head of a community or caste.[1]
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.[1] These people belonged to the zamindar families in British India.[3][verification needed] 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]
In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the titular Rajas of the Bohmong Circle and Mong Circle have the surname Chowdhury.[4][5][6][7]
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.[9]
In Bihar, the Pasi are also known as the Chaudhary, a community traditionally connected with toddy tapping.[10]
In Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Chaudhary surname is mainly used by Jat community while some other caste also using it are Gurjars, Ahirs, etc. This surname is popular in North India and it conveys honour and strength.[11][12] It is typically used as a prefix before the given name, often represented by the prefix 'Ch' such as Ch. Charan Singh, 5th prime minister of India and Ch. Devi Lal, 6th deputy prime minister of India.
Many Prajapati Kumhars also use surname as Chaudhary. They use prefix 'Ch' before the given name.[13]
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.[14][15][16]
Its alternate spellings include: Chaudhary, Chaudri, Chaudhri, Choudhary, Chaudhry, Chowdary, Chowdhary, Chaudry, Choudary, Choudhry, Chaudhuri, Chaudhari, Chudhry, Choudhari, Choudhury, Chowdhuri and Chowdury.[1] The female equivalent is Chaudhurani and alternate spellings include: Choudhurani, Chowdhurani, Chowdhrani, Choudhrani, Chaudhrani.