What are the most common surnames in Uttar Pradesh?

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Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in India, is home to a diverse range of communities, each with its own unique customs, traditions and identities. One way in which these identities are expressed is through surnames, which can reveal a great deal about a person’s family history, social status and cultural background. Indeed, individual’s surnames in India traditionally reflect their community, family, caste, village of origin or occupational activity.

In Uttar Pradesh, as in other northern states, English-speaking Western naming conventions are followed. Individuals have a surname preceded by a given name (and sometimes a middle name). This is not the case in southern India where surnames are often reduced to initial letters, then give less or no information about individuals’ background.

In this article, we will explore the origins and meanings of some of the most common surnames in Uttar Pradesh. It’s worth noting that surnames and naming conventions can be complex and vary greatly across different regions and communities in India. The same name can hold different meanings according to communities using it.

1.       Devi

“Devi” which means “goddess” is derived from Sanskrit and is primarily associated with the Hindu community. It is not a surname but is more used as a title of respect by women, particularly those who are older or married. For example, a woman named Radha who is married has been given her husband’s name but might be called Radha Devi by her neighbors or community members as a sign of respect.

2.       Kumar/Kumari

The surname “Kumar” is the 11^th most common family name in the world. The majority of all known bearers of this surname are part of the Hindu community living in India, more precisely in northern Indian states. It is often used by families with a Kshatriya or warrior background.

Derived from the Sanskrit word “Kumara”, which means “youth” or “prince”, Kumar can be a title, a given name, a middle name or a family name. It is often combined with a first name to form a complete name. For example, a man named Rohit might be known as Rohit Kumar, while a woman named Sunita might be known as Sunita Kumari.

3.       Singh

Singh is the 9^th most common surname in the world. Derived from the Sanskrit word “Simha”, which means “lion”, the surname Singh is mainly associated with the Sikh community, although it is also used by Hindu communities such as Rajputs and Jats.

All Sikh men are called Singh and all Sikh women Kaur (“princess”) according to the Khalsa tradition. This is a way of promoting equality: each member of the community holds the same name. This is a way for Sikhism to reject the social stratification promoted by Hinduism. Indeed, Hindu names provide much information about the person who holds it, which can lead to discriminatory behaviors.

4.       Lal

The surname “Lal” has a double etymology. It means “darling”, “precious” or “beloved” in Sanskrit, “garnet” or “ruby” in Persian, “ruby” in Pashto and “red” in Bengali. Then it is used by people of various castes and religions, including Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs. Typically used as a surname, it can also be used as a first name or as a part of a compound name.

5.       Khan

“Khan” is the 17^th most common surname in the world. It is primarily associated with the Muslim community although it is also found among other communities such as Rajputs who may have adopted the name through marriage or other social ties.

The surname Khan, which means “leader” or “ruler” in Persian, is believed to have originated in Central Asia and spread to India and other parts of South Asia through a combination of migration and conquest. In India, it is particularly associated with the Mughal dynasty which ruled over much of the Indian subcontinent from the 16^th to the 19^th century. Many of the Mughal emperors and their courtiers bore the surname Khan and the name became associated with power and nobility.

6.       Ahmad/Ahamad

The surname “Ahmad” (sometimes spelled “Ahamad” or “Ahmed”) is linked to the Muslim community in Uttar Pradesh (especially in the western part of the state which has a significant Muslim population) although it is used by other communities as well. It is derived from the Arabic name “Ahmed” which means “most commendable” or “most praiseworthy”. It is a popular name among Muslims worldwide and is associated with the Prophet Muhammad who is also known as Ahmad in some Islamic traditions.

7.       Ali

Mainly associated with the Muslim community, “Ali” is the 13^th most common surname in the world. Derived from Arabic, it means “exalted” or “high”, “someone who is in a superior place”. Popular among Muslims worldwide, especially in Arab countries and in South Asia, it is particularly associated with the Prophet Muhammad’s cousin and-son-in-law, Hazrat Ali, who is revered by Shia Muslims as the first imam.

8.       Prasad

“Prasad” is one of the most common surnames in Uttar Pradesh used by a diverse range of communities and castes. In the Hindu community, the surname Prasad, which means “offering to the gods”, is primarily used by Brahmins. It is also commonly found among Christians, particularly among those who are converts from Hinduism.

9.       Sharma

In Sanskrit, “Sharma” means “happiness”, “bliss”, “protection” and “shelter”. The surname is traditionally linked to the Brahmin caste. It can also be found among other communities such as Kshatriyas and Vaishyas. Members of these castes may have adopted this surname as a way of asserting their social status or gaining respectability.

10.   Yadav

The Yadav surname is one of the most common surnames among the Yadav community. The latter is considered to be one of the largest and most influential in India, particularly in the northern states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Yadav communities claim that they are descendants of Yadu who is the founder or the Yadu dynasty in Hinduism.

What are common first names in Uttar Pradesh?

Here are some common baby names, some of them can be genderless :

Male Uttar Pradesh Baby Name (Hindi)	English Baby Name	Gender
राजेश	Rajesh	Male
कमलेश	Kamlesh	Female and Male
राजकुमार	Rajkumar	Male
मनोज कुमार	Manoj Kumar	Male
सुनील कुमार	Sunil Kumar	Male
अनिल कुमार	Anil Kumar	Male
संजय	Sanjay	Male
राजेश कुमार	Rajesh Kumar	Male
रमेश	Ramesh	Male

Female Uttar Pradesh Baby Name (Hindi)	English Baby Name	Gender
सुनीता	Sunita	Female
गीता	Gita	Female
सुमन	Suman	Female
कमलेश	Kamlesh	Female and Male
अनीता	Anita	Female
संगीता	Sangeeta	Female
सीमा	Seema	Female
सुनीता देवी	Sunita Devi	Female
ममता	Mamata	Female

What are the most frequent names overall in Uttar Pradesh ?

Here are some common names, overall in Hindi and English :

Hindi name	English name	English name (variant)
सुनीता राजेश	Sunita Rajesh
सुनीता सुरेश	Sunita Suresh
संगीता राजेश	Sangeeta Rajesh	Sangita Rajesh
गीता राजेश	Geeta Rajesh
सुनीता अशोक	Sunita Ashok
संगीता संजय	Sangeeta Sanjay	Sangita Sanjay
सुमन राजेश	Suman Rajesh
सुनीता राजू	Sunita Raju
अनीता राजेश	Anita Rajesh

Hindi name	English name	English name (variant)
अमित कुमार अशोक कुमार	Amit Kumar Ashok Kumar	Amit Kumar Ashok Kumar
संजय राजेन्द्र	Sanjay Rajendra
मनोज राजेन्द्र	Manoj Rajendra	Manoj Rajendar
राजेश जगदीश	Rajesh Jagdish
संजय जगदीश	Sanjay Jagdish	Sanjay Jagdash
सुनील राजेन्द्र	Sunil Rajendra
राजकुमार छोटेलाल	Rajkumar Chhote Lal	Rajkumar Chhotelal
मनोज जगदीश	Manoj Jagdish
अनिल कुमार राजाराम	Anil Kumar Rajaram

ChatGPT : Where is the Uttar Pradesh diaspora located ?

The Uttar Pradesh diaspora is scattered across the world, with significant communities in many countries. Some of the major destinations of the Uttar Pradesh diaspora are:

1. United States of America
2. United Kingdom
3. Canada
4. United Arab Emirates
5. Saudi Arabia
6. Kuwait
7. Qatar
8. Oman
9. Bahrain
10. Australia
11. New Zealand

In addition to these countries, there are also significant populations of people from Uttar Pradesh in other parts of the world, such as Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia. These diaspora communities have formed their own cultural associations and organizations to preserve their cultural identity and promote their heritage.

ChatGPT : Which castes enter the SC/ST list in Uttar Pradesh?

The Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) lists in Uttar Pradesh include various castes and tribes recognized by the government for affirmative action programs and benefits. Some of the castes and tribes included in the SC/ST list in Uttar Pradesh are:

Scheduled Castes:

1. Agaria
2. Badhai (OBC converted to SC)
3. Balmiki, Chura and Bhangi
4. Bansphor
5. Bantar
6. Bauria
7. Bind (Vind) formerly known as Dom
8. Chamar, Jatia Chamar, Rehgar, Raigar, Ramdasia, Ravidasia, Balahi, and Balmiki
9. Dhanuk
10. Khatik
11. Kori/Koli
12. Mahar, Taral
13. Mallah, Nishad, Kewat
14. Pasi, Dhanuk
15. Sapera

Scheduled Tribes:

1. Abujh Maria
2. Agariya
3. Baiga
4. Bharia
5. Bharot
6. Bhoksa
7. Chero
8. Gond
9. Kharwar
10. Kisan
11. Kol
12. Korwa
13. Munda
14. Oraon
15. Sahariya

It is important to note that the list of castes and tribes included in the SC/ST list may vary from state to state, based on the social and economic conditions of the respective states.

ChatGPT : Which castes enter the OBC list in Uttar Pradesh ?

The Other Backward Classes (OBC) list in Uttar Pradesh includes various castes and communities recognized by the government for affirmative action programs and benefits. Some of the castes and communities included in the OBC list in Uttar Pradesh are:

1. Ahir/Yadav
2. Baniya
3. Barhai, Badhai, Tarkhan, Baddi
4. Bari
5. Chamar (Jatav)
6. Chhipi, Chhimba, Darji, Kori
7. Gadaria (Gaadri)
8. Gujjar
9. Kahar
10. Kalwar, Kalar
11. Kewat (Keot)
12. Koiri/Kushwaha (Koiry)
13. Kurmi
14. Lodh (Maurya)
15. Mali (Gardener)
16. Nai (Barber)
17. Prajapati
18. Rajbhar
19. Saini
20. Sonar (Goldsmith)
21. Teli (Oilman)
22. Vishwakarma (Lohar, Panchal)

It is important to note that the list of castes and communities included in the OBC list may vary from state to state, based on the social and economic conditions of the respective states. Additionally, the OBC list may be revised and updated periodically by the government based on various factors, such as population demographics and political considerations.

ChatGPT : Which castes enter the General category in Uttar Pradesh ?

In Uttar Pradesh, the General category or the Unreserved category includes individuals who do not belong to the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), or Other Backward Classes (OBC) categories. The General category includes people from various castes and communities, and there is no specific list of castes or communities included in this category.

However, it is important to note that individuals belonging to the General category may still face social and economic disadvantages based on factors such as their caste, religion, gender, and economic status. The reservation system in India aims to address these disadvantages by providing affirmative action programs and benefits to individuals from historically marginalized communities.

ChatGPT : How does the caste category and affirmative action affect people’s education and employment in the public sector in Uttar Pradesh?

The caste category and affirmative action policies have a significant impact on people’s education and employment opportunities in the public sector in Uttar Pradesh.

In the education sector, students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) are given access to reservations and quotas in educational institutions. This enables them to secure admission to higher education institutions and professional courses, which may otherwise have been difficult due to lack of resources or social barriers. As a result, individuals from these communities are able to obtain better education and employment opportunities, leading to increased social mobility and economic empowerment.

In the employment sector, individuals belonging to SC, ST, and OBC categories are given reservations and quotas in government jobs and public sector enterprises. This enables them to secure employment in the public sector, which is considered stable and secure, with benefits such as job security, pension, and other perks. As a result, individuals from these communities are able to obtain better employment opportunities, leading to increased social and economic empowerment.

However, it is important to note that the implementation of affirmative action policies is often accompanied by challenges such as corruption, bureaucracy, and inefficiency. Additionally, there is often resistance from individuals belonging to the General category, who may feel that their opportunities are being restricted due to the reservations and quotas. Therefore, there is a need for continuous evaluation and improvement of affirmative action policies to ensure that they are effective and efficient in promoting social justice and equality.

ChatGPT : How does caste category and affirmative action affect people’s employment in the private sector, for example, in the large foreign IT companies (like IBM, Accenture, Cap Gemini or Computer Science Corporation) ?

In India, affirmative action policies are primarily implemented in the public sector, and there are no specific quotas or reservations for individuals belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) in the private sector, including large foreign IT companies like IBM, Accenture, Capgemini, or Computer Science Corporation.

However, these companies may voluntarily adopt affirmative action policies to promote diversity and inclusion in their workforce. For example, they may have diversity and inclusion programs that aim to recruit and retain employees from diverse backgrounds, including individuals from historically marginalized communities. They may also have policies that promote equal opportunities and non-discrimination in the workplace.

Additionally, some state governments in India have introduced policies that encourage private sector companies to employ individuals from SC, ST, and OBC categories. For example, the Uttar Pradesh government has introduced a policy that mandates private sector companies to reserve 20% of jobs for individuals belonging to SC, ST, and OBC categories, subject to certain conditions. However, the implementation of such policies in the private sector is often challenging, and there is a need for continuous evaluation and improvement to ensure their effectiveness.

Overall, while the caste category and affirmative action policies do not directly affect people’s employment in the private sector, they may indirectly influence diversity and inclusion policies adopted by private sector companies.

Announcement : NamSor has added new Indian name classification models by gender / state / religion / caste group (free up to 500 names per month).

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