Paper BENGALEE SURNAMES
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Paper M BENGALEE SURNAMES S MOOKERJEE University of Calcutta Discusses the emergence of surnames particu- direction, to formulate uniform practice and larly with reference to Bengali names. Gives to fall in with the international form. Univer- an annotated list of derivation. A fairly sity has its advantages and it will help the exhaustive list of surnames as obtain in foreigners to handle our bibliographies with Bengalees in general is given for purposes of more ease. Still there are many who oppose cataloguing. this and they have their reasons as well. o INTRODUCTION 1 NATURE OF SURNt>cMES Surnames have probably been a common Surnames and titles or decorations used feature for some centuries in many count.ries. along with the proper names - generally added But for bibliographical purposes and for library at the end of the names - are either genealogi- catalogues surnames have been a knotty prob- calor professional. The former have been in lem in some of the Indian States, more so in use from generation to generation and are Bengal. The Western practice has been to generally family names some of which may even catalogue all books under the author s ! surnames have been personal names. Professional names followed by the initials of the forenames and in have also been adapted as family names and are case of a single forename, it is usual to write regularly used as surnames. It has been a the name in full instead of putting the initial of practice for several centuries to award titles the forename only. This practice has several to persons who occupy positions of eminence in advantages for bibliographical and for library intelligence, learning, wealth or riches, purposes as well. The practice in the East honour etc. Persons who have rendered meri- for Oriental names was generally to use the torious service to the country have also been forename of the author instead of his surname. awarded titles which have gone down from A single instance would illustrate this, e. g. generation to generation and thus got absorbed William Carey, will be better known under as family names or surnames. Indian history Carey than William, whereas Bank im Chandra from pre-Moghul days has shown that Chatterjee will be better known as Ba nk im the ruling Hindu Kings had awarded titles on Chandra than as Chatterjee. Similarly persons and families for either meritorious Ravindranath Tagore is better known in Bengal service to the country or for leadership in as Ravindranath though he is better known as society. This practice has been followed by Tagore in the Western world. In a public lib- the Pathan and the Moghul rulers and by their rary in a village or town in Bengal, people successors, the British as well. Even in inde- will enquire about Bankirn Chandra's books 'and pendent India the Presidential awards on the not for Chatterjee's books, for Ravi Babu s ! Republic day, like the New Years' Honours of books and not for Thakurs' or 'I'a go r es ! books. the English Sovereigns, is just a continuation In the post independence era there has been a of the old practice of honouring persons fo r tendency and perhaps a tendency in the right meritorious service to the country. Some of V 6 N 3 Sep 1959 81 M1 MOOKHERJEE the titles awarded by the Muslim rulers have four sides (of the Capital or of the State) been adopted as family names and are still was also known by this title. The Punjabi continuing as such from generation to genera- title of the same category may have a tion. similar meaning. Dastidar - Generally meant the Keeper of the 2 DERlVATION Royal Seals. This indicated the person under whose signature or Dastkhat, a Here is a sample of an annotated list of such royal document wa s despatched. titular or official terms which has become sur- names: Deshmukh - Persons who were the Chief Re- venue or Police Officer of the district. Baksi - generally signified a Pay Master. They were respected like the Zamindars. These persons used to disburse the pay The Marhati title Deshmukh may also have of the Army and used to keep all the an allied meaning. accounts of the land or jagirs of the Mansabdars and Jagirdars of the Military Ha Ida r - Signified a lower officer of the Department. The Kashmiri title of the village or an Assistant Keeper of the same nomenclature may also have a simi- Accounts. (the owner of a hal or modern lar meaning. It may be noted that this or current accounts (plough?)). title like a host of others was bestowed Hazari - The General of a thousand Army. irrespective of the religion of the person. The Marhati title of Hazare may have some Both Hindus & Moslems have this title in similarity with this. common, depending on the ancestors' vocation under the then ruling chief. Khan - This indicated a class of nobility, whether of Hindus or Muslims. The Bharida r Kayastha - This is a Royal Post and Muslim rulers of Gaud or old Bengal it was' used as a title of decoration by the awarded this title to the Hindu Generals in Hindu rulers. The Pathans & the Muslim the Army. Khan Sahib indicated additional rulers also made use of it. Generally the honour. This title was also bestowed for Royal treasury was under the charge of meritorious public work. this dignitory. Kanungo - Derived from Arabic Quanun or Biswas - This was a title bestowed on per- Laws. One who is Master of the Laws. sons who were reliable and had to be This generally indicated a Revenue depended on for all the responsible work Officer. The Officer who is to keep a re- of accounts, receipts and expenditure. cord of all accounts about the land, its The Keeper of the Stores etc. were also' revenue collection, price of the land, known under the same title. This is a ownership, transfer etc. In days prior to common surname used even in the present Todar Mulls' reign, these officers had day by Hindus including Brhamins and more powers. Settlement Officers in Muslims alike. Bengal are generally known even in the Chakladar - These were the Chiefs of the present day as Kanungos or Quanungos. Chakla. Several pa r ga.nas constituted a Khasnovis - Generally signifies a Private Chakla. During the time of the Muslim Secretary, a Clerk or an Accounts rulers the country was divided into Officer. Chak la s or Circles (Chakras) hence it may mean a Circle Officer. Krori - Signified persons who would collect revenue to the extent of one kror (crore Chaudhuri - Signified one who was in charge or one hundred Iakh ) darn. (40 dams is of four different forces in the Army, i, e. equal to One Rupee). the Fleet, the Cavalry, the Infantry and the Elephant Corps. This also indicated La sk a r - This was a title conferred on fit one who kept the accounts of the Revenue of persons in the Army. the State. Sometimes the Zemindar or MandaI - The Chief of the village. Some- Landlord of the near-about lands on the times this designation meant the person 82 An lib sc BENGALEE SURNAMES MZ who as a Representative of the Zemindar changer and sometimes one who deals in (Landlord) used to distribute land and money and jewels. collect the revenue also. This title is in vogue in the present day both among Pur Kayastha - This is an old Hindu title Hindus and Muslims. generally awarded to the Chief Writer of the Ruler or Kind. (Kayastha is a Writer Mir-vahar - Generally signified the Chief of of Records, Pur a is Chief.). the Fleet or the Admiral of the Fleet. Sometimes the Collector of Custom was Ray, Rajan, Roy - In the days of the Nawabs, also designed by this term. these titles signified the honour of having a thousand soldiers under them. Mullick - During the rule of the Pathan Kings, noble men of the Court who were Ray Bahadur - Those who weilded an army of awarded jagirs or zemandaries were de- three thousand strong were thus decorated. corated with this title. The Punjabi In the British days, this title indicated . title Malik may be akin to this. respectability. Hindus were decorated with Ray Bahadur and Muslims with Khan Majumdar - These persons were employed Bahadur titles. under the Chief Administrators to keep the accounts of the revenue receipts and Ray-Rayan (King of Kings) - The Chief Hindu arrangements etc. They were also re- Officer in the civil side under the Bengal quired to check the revenue receipts of Nawabs were thus decorated. The early the Zemindars. This is a common title British rulers also made use of this title in the present day. upto i 772 A. D. Munshi - Generally signified a Secreatry. Samaddar - This title denoted persons who These people used to note down the dispo- were employed by the Government or the sitions in the law courts and did other Zemindars (Landlords) to inspect and secretarial work or writing work. This supervise the cultivation in the districts is also a very common title in the United and also to settle the disputes amongst Province or Uttar Pradesh and other the cultivator s , parts of North India. Sarkar - The Chief person in the village. Munsiff - It generally implied a person This is a heriditary title and is common employed by the Landlords to inspect the in the modern times though the family lands. The present service of Munsiffs may not be holding the former position at in Bengal signify the cadre of Judicial all. Sometimes the same title denotes a Officers below the rank of Sub-ordinate professional class such as a clerk or one Judge.