Chowdhury

Chowdhury is a title of honour, usually hereditary, originating from the Indian subcontinent.[1]

Chowdhury
Pronunciationchow-dhuree
chaw-dree
chow-dree
Origin
Word/nameIndo-Aryan
MeaningHolder of four; four-way duties; four responsibilities
Region of originIndian subcontinent
Other names
Variant form(s)Chaudhary, Chaudri, Choudhary, Chaudhry, Chowdary, Chowdhary, Chaudry, Choudary, Choudhry, Chaudhuri, Chaudhari, Chudhry, Choudhari, Choudhury, Chowdhuri, Chowduri, Chaudhurani, Choudhurani, Chowdhurani, Chowdhrani, Choudhrani, Chaudhrani.

Meaning and significance

"Chowdhury" is a term adapted from the Sanskrit word caturdhara, literally "holder of four" (four denoting a measure of land, from catur ("four") and dhara ("holder" or "possessor")).[2] The name is an ancient Sanskrit term denoting the head of a community or caste.[3] 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.[5]

Chowdhuries of Cachar

The Muslim Mirashdars living in the Kachari Kingdom (predominantly Sylhetis) were given titles by the Kachari Raja which had a hierarchy, and in modern-day acts as a surname for the Kachari Sylheti Muslims of the Barak Valley. The title was the highest ranking title granted by the Kachari king above Majumdar, Bhuiyan, Barbhuiyan, Mazarbhuiyan, Rajbarbhuiyan, Laskar, and Barlaskar respectively.[6]

In Bihar

In Bihar, the Pasi are also known as the Chaudhary, a community traditionally connected with toddy tapping.[7]

Alternate spellings

Its alternate spellings include: Chaudhary, Chaudri, 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.

Notable people
Faizunnesa Choudhurani was a 19th-century feminist who was awarded the title of Nawab Begum
Chaudhry Muhammad Ali served as Prime Minister of Pakistan between 1955 and 1956

Bangladesh

India

Nepal

Fiji

Pakistan

United Kingdom

United States

Chaudhurani

References
  1. Bhindar, Imran (2018). FROM SIALKOT TO VANCOUVER. Lulu.com. p. 28. ISBN 978-1-64254-791-7. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  2. Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press
  3. Campbell, Mike. "User-submitted surname Choudhry". Behind the Name. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  4. Patrick Hanks, Richard Coates, Peter McClure (2016). The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland. Oxford University Press. p. 501. ISBN 9780192527479.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. The Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India, Volume 51. Anthropology Survey of India. 2002. p. 204.
  6. E M Lewis (1868). "Cachar District: Statement No. XVIII: Glossary of Local Terms". Principal Heads of the History and Statistics of the Dacca Division. Calcutta: Calcutta Central Press Company. pp. 406–408.
  7. People of India Bihar Volume XVI Part Two edited by S Gopal & Hetukar Jha pages 759 to 765 Seagull Books
  8. Ahuja, M. L. (2000). Handbook of General Elections and Electoral Reforms in India, 1952-1999. Mittal Publications. pp. 302, 340. ISBN 9788170997665.
  9. "Pakistani Leaders Online". Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  10. Hossain, Anowar (2003). Muslim women's struggle for freedom in colonial Bengal: (1873-1940). Progressive Publishers. p. 266. ISBN 9788180640308.
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