Das (translation: "devotee of God") is a common last name in South Asia, among adherents of Hinduism and Sikhism, as well as those who converted to Islam or Christianity. It is a derived from the Sanskrit word Dasa (Sanskrit: दास) meaning servant, devotee, or votary. "Das" may be inferred to be one who has surrendered to God. The surname is often used by those in the Vaishnav community.[1]

Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand

Das is a common surname among Bengali Kayasthas.[2] In Bengal, the surname is also used by both Scheduled Castes[3] and General Castes.

More broadly, in Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand, the surname "Das" is also used by the Dhobi and Patni communities.[4]

Assam

In Assam, the Kaibarta, the Patni, the Koch-Rajbanshi, and other communities also use Das as their surname.[5][6][4]

Odisha

In Odisha, the Das surname is used by the Gopal and Karan castes, while "Dash" is used by the Brahmins.[7]

Punjab

In Punjab, they generally belong to the Brahmin caste.[8]

Karnataka

In Karnataka, the Das surname is used by a section of Vokkaligas who profess Vaishnavism called Das Vokkaligas.[9]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ "Das Family History". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  2. ^ Ronald. B. Inden (January 1976). Marriage and Rank in Bengali Culture : A History of Caste and Clan in Middle Period Bengal. University of California Press. p. 40. ISBN 9780520025691.
  3. ^ Ghosh, Partha S. (23 May 2016). Migrants, Refugees and the Stateless in South Asia. SAGE Publications India. p. 71. ISBN 978-93-5150-855-7.
  4. ^ a b "Scheduled Communities: A social Development profile of SC/ST's (Bihar, Jharkhand & W.B)" (PDF). niti.gov.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  5. ^ Census of India (Volume 5, Issue 1 ed.). India: Government of India. 1911. p. 498.
  6. ^ Roy, Dayabati (19 December 2013). Rural Politics in India: Political Stratification and Governance in West Bengal. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. p. 67. ISBN 978-1-107-04235-3.
  7. ^ "shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in" (PDF).
  8. ^ "Bhai Mati Das". Sikh Heritage. Retrieved 19 April 2009.
  9. ^ Subha, K. (1997). Karnataka Panchayat Elections 1995: Process, Issues, and Membership Profile. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-7022-612-3.
  10. ^ das (2006). Essays And Lectures On The Religions Of The Hindus: Religious Sects of the Hindus V1. p. 353. ISBN 1-4286-1308-0.
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