60+ Most Common Indian Surnames (with Meanings)

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Learn about occupation, descriptive, & religious surnames in India

Co-authored by Devin McSween

Last Updated: January 21, 2026 Fact Checked

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Surnames in Other Countries

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India is a diverse and culturally rich country, and the last names definitely match. Whether you have Indian ancestry or are simply curious about the most common surnames in the country, we’re here to help. In this article, we’ll go over the most popular last names in India, including occupational, religious-based, and descriptive surnames. Keep reading to learn more!

What are common Indian surnames?

Indian surnames are often based on an ancestor’s profession, religious role, personality trait, or place of origin. Common last names include Devi (“goddess”), Singh (“lion”), Kumar (“prince”), Das (“servant”), Kaur (“princess”), and Ram (“charming”).

Section 1 of 5:

Common Indian Surnames

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India is a huge and culturally rich country, so Indian surnames come from a wide variety of origins. Some surnames are based on occupations and religious roles, while others are based on descriptions, like where someone is from. Here are some of the most common names in India:
- Devi: “Goddess.”
- Singh: “Lion.”
- Kumar: “Prince.”
- Das: “Servant” or “devotee.”
- Kaur: “Princess.”
- Ram: “Charming” or “pleasing.”
- Yadav: “Descendant of Yadav.” Also associated with the Yadav caste.
- Kumari: “Girl” or “princess.”
- Lal: “Darling” or “beloved.”
- Sharma: “Joy” or “comfort.”
- Shah: “King,” Persian origin.
- Kapoor: “Camphor.” Also associated with a clan in the Khatri caste.
- Malik: “King,” Arabic origin.
- Shukla: “Bright” or “white.”
- Patel: “Village headman.”
- Chatterjee: “Teacher from Chatta.”
- Gupta: “Guardian” or “protector.”
- Desai: “Country lord.”
- Banerjee: “Instructor” or “priest.”
- Bakshi: “Paymaster,” Persian origin.

Section 2 of 5:

Occupational Indian Surnames

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Many common names in India are based on an ancestor’s or family’s trade or profession. Some of these surnames were also once titles, like “king” or “chief.” Check out some common occupational last names below:
- Deshpande: “One who maintains records.”
- Gandhi: “Perfume seller.”
- Ghosh: “Cowherder” or “noise.”
- Joshi: “Astrologer.”
- Seth: “Banker.”
- Kapadia: “Fabric maker.”
- Khan: “Ruler.”
- Khatri: “Warrior” or “carver.”
- Kulkarni: “Village archivist.”
- Mahajan: “Merchant.”
- Malhotra: “Chief.”
- Nayak: “Chief” or “leader.”
- Pathak: “Teacher.”
- Raj: “King” or “ruler.”
- Rao: “King.”
- Sarkar: “Lord.”
- Suri: “Wise” or “learned.”
- Talwar: “Sword.”
- Thakur: “Lord.”
- Vaidya: “Doctor.”

Section 3 of 5:

Religious Indian Surnames

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Religion is as important as it is diverse in India. Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism all originated in India, and there are also a large number of Muslims and Christians. So, many Indian names are related to religious roles, ideas, and deities. Some of the most common include:
- Acharya: “Spiritual guide.”
- Basu: From Vasu, meaning “bright ones.” Refers to Hindu deities.
- Bedi: “Knower of the Vedas.”
- Jain: Refers to someone who practices Jainism.
- Jha: Refers to a Vedic scholar.
- Nagaraj: “King of the nagas,” which refers to Hindu deities.
- Somayaji: “One who performs the Somayaga srauta ritual.”
- Swargiary: “Heavenly.”

Section 4 of 5:

Descriptive Indian Surnames

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Many Indian surnames are descriptive, whether they indicate where someone is from or refer to a personality trait. Below are some of the most common descriptive last names in India:
- Agarkar: “From Agar,” a town in India.
- Agarwal: “From Agroha,” a region in India.
- Ahuja: “Descendant of Ahu.”
- Anand: “Happiness” or “bliss.”
- Biswas: “Faith” or “trust.”
- Chandrakar: “Moon.”
- Chowdhury: “Holder of four.”
- Mehta: “Great” or “praised.”
- Mishra: “Mixed” or “blended.”
- Nagarkar: “From Nagar,” a town in India.
- Puri: “Town.”
- Sahu: “Honest.”
- Varma: “Protection” or “shield.”
- Vemulakonda: “From Vemula,” a city in India.