Mehta

2026-07-06T15:57:05Z

2400:1A00:1B67:718A:885C:857F:36D:13F8: nisha mehta is koiri im my self from nepal adding her as an rajput please don't do that

{{For|the village in Madhya Pradesh, India|Mehta (village)}}
'''Mehta''' ({{ipa|hi|meːɦt̪aː|ipa}}) is an [[south asian surname]], derived from the [[Sanskrit]] word ''mahita'' meaning 'great' or 'praised'. It is found among several Indian religious groups, including [[Hindus]], [[Jains]], [[Parsis]], and [[Sikhs]]. Among Hindus, it is used by a wide range of castes and social groups, including [[kushwaha]]/[[Koeri]], [[Rajput]]s, [[Brahmin]]s ([[Mohyal Brahmin]]) , Tyagi and [[Bania (caste)|Bania]].<ref name=Oxford>{{Cite book | url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780195081374.001.0001/acref-9780195081374-e-41805?rskey=86GkPQ&result=44 | title=Dictionary of American Family Names | publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] | isbn=0-19-508137-4}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}}

==As surname used by Kushwaha (Koeri)==
Mehta is also used as a surname by some families belonging to the [[Kushwaha]]([[Koeri]]) community in the Indian state of [[Bihar]] and the [[Madhesh Province|Madhesh]] and (Terai) region of [[Nepal]]. Historically, the title "Mehta" was associated in some localities with village administration, revenue collection, and positions of responsibility. Over time, it became a hereditary surname among certain Kushwaha (Koiri) families.
People bearing the Mehta surname among the Kushwaha (Koiri) community are found primarily in the districts of [[East Champaran]], [[West Champaran]], [[Muzaffarpur]], [[Sitamarhi]], [[Madhubani]], [[Darbhanga]], [[Samastipur]], [[Vaishali district|Vaishali]], and adjoining areas of Bihar, as well as in the Terai districts of Nepal including [[Parsa District|Parsa]], [[Bara District|Bara]], [[Rautahat District|Rautahat]], [[Sarlahi District|Sarlahi]], [[Mahottari District|Mahottari]], [[Dhanusha District|Dhanusha]], [[Siraha District|Siraha]], [[Saptari District|Saptari]],[[Sunsari District|Sunsari]] and [[Morang District|Morang]]. Members of these families have traditionally been engaged in agriculture, landownership(zamindar), trade, public service, education, and business.They are an influential and well-organized powerful caste compared to other castes. They are very hardworking. The Kushwaha community belongs to the Vaishya class of the Madhesh upper caste , but many also claim to have the Kshatriya status. Although their ancestors were vegetarians, this is currently changing<ref>Government of Nepal; Central Bureau of Statistics; UNFPA. ''Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II: Social Demography''. Kathmandu: CBS/UNFPA, 2014. https://nepal.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/Population%20Monograph%20V02.pdf</ref> <ref>Government of Nepal, National Statistics Office. ''National Population and Housing Census 2021: Caste/Ethnicity Report''. Kathmandu: NSO, 2023. https://censusnepal.cbs.gov.np/results/files/result-folder/Caste%20Ethnicity_report_NPHC_2021.pdf</ref>.
*1996–1998: Ajit Kumar Mehta (Member of Parliament, Samastipur) / Government of India
*2020–2024: Alok Kumar Mehta (Minister of Revenue and Land Reforms, Bihar) / Government of Bihar
*2023–2024: Alok Kumar Mehta (Minister of Cooperative, Bihar) / Government of Bihar
*2024–present: Nisha Mehta (Minister of Health and Population, Nepal) / Government of Nepal

==Distribution in India==
People with this surname are native to [[North India|North]] and [[West India|Western regions]] of [[India]], including [[Punjab]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Haryana]], [[Delhi]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Bihar]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Gujarat]], and [[Maharashtra]] ([[Mumbai]]).<ref name=Oxford/>

==As surname used by Rajputs==
Mehta is also a [[Rajput]] clan name in the [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] and [[Garhwal division|Garhwal]] region of [[Uttarakhand]], hilly terrains of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and western areas of Nepal. They served as nobles, ministers and bureaucrats under the [[Katyuri Kings]] and [[Chand Kings]] of Uttarakhand. People having this surname are native to Almora, Bageshwar, and Nainital districts of Uttarakhand, eastern parts of Himachal, Jammu and Kashmir, and western Nepal. In Nepal, they come under the [[Chhetri]] [[Varna (Hinduism)|varna]] and are considered chieftains of villages.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://forebears.io/surnames/mehta | title=Mehta Surname}}</ref>

In Rajasthan, Mehta was originally used as a term of respect applied to administrative office holders and bureaucrats of [[Rajputana]] kings.
Among Rajputs, it is used as both title and surname by [[Dewan]]s (ministers and nobles) of [[Bikaner State]] and many other states of [[Rajputana]] and are considered direct descendants of the [[Solar dynasty]] (Suryavanshi) and [[Chauhan Dynasty]]. The [[dewan]]s and [[chief minister]]s of the [[Bikaner State]] were:

*1460–1465 Bachhraj Bothra (Mantri-Dewan / Jodhpur) / Rao Jodha
*1465–1505 Bachhraj Bothra (Founding Dewan / Bikaner) / Rao Bika
*1505–1526 Karam Singh Bothra Bachhawat (Descendants of Bachhraj were known as Bachhawats) / Rao Nar Singh and Rao Lunkaran
*1571–1591 Mehta [[Karam Chand Bachhawat]] (Title of Mehta granted by Emperor Akbar) / Rao Kalyan Mal and Raja Rai Singh
*1619–1620 Mehta Bhag Chand Bothra Bachhawat / Raja Sur Singh
*1619–1620 Mehta Lakshmi Chand Bothra Bachhawat / Raja Sur Singh
*1735 – February 1751: Mehta Bakhtawar Singh (1st time) (b. 1707 – d. 1779)
*1752–1756: Mehta Bakhtawar Singh (2nd time) (s.a.)
*1756 – December 1757: Mehta Prithvi Singh
*1757–1762: Mehta Bakhtawar Singh (3rd time) (s.a.)
*September 1765 – 1779: Mehta Bakhtawar Singh (4th time) (s.a.)
*1779–178.: Mehta Swaroop Singh
*178.–1787: Mehta Thakursi
*1787–1791: Mehta Madho Rao
*1794–1805: Mehta Rao Sahib Singh Gun Roop
*April 1815 – February 1816: Mehta Bhomji
*February 1816 – 1828: Abhai Singh Mehta
*1853–1853: Leeladhar Mehta
*1868: Sheo Lal Mehta

==As surname used by Banias==
Among [[Oswal]] and [[Porwal]] [[Bania (caste)|Banias]], Mehta is a clan name.<ref name="Oxford" />

== As surname used by Khatris==
Among [[Khatri|Khatris]], Mehta is a clan name.<ref name="Oxford" />

==Notable individuals==
Notable individuals with this surname include:


*[[Aditya Mehta]] (born 1985), snooker player
*[[Ajay Mehta]], Indian actor
*[[Alok Mehta]] (born 1952), Indian journalist
*[[Alok Kumar Mehta]], former General Secretary of [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]], served as minister in [[Government of Bihar]].
*[[Amit Mehta]] (born 1971), United States district judge
*[[Anil Mehta]], film director, cinematographer
*[[Apoorva Mehta]] (born 1986), founder of Instacart
*[[Ashok Mehta]] (1947–2012), Indian cinematographer
*[[Atul Mehta]] (born 1949), Indian cricketer
*[[Balwantrai Mehta]] (1900–1965), Gujarat's second Chief Minister
*[[Bejun Mehta]] (born 1968), American countertenor
*[[Deepa Mehta]] (born 1950), Canadian film director and screenwriter
*[[Deena Mehta]] (born 1961), Indian first woman president of the [[Bombay Stock Exchange]]
*[[Devaanshi Mehta]] (1996–2012), British-Indian student who started the Asian Donor Campaign
*[[Dilip Mehta]]
*[[Gita Mehta]] (''née'' Patnaik; 1943–2023), Indian writer
*[[Gulshan Kumar Mehta]] (1937–2009), Indian lyricist and actor
*[[Hansa Jivraj Mehta]] (1897–1995), Indian reformist, social activist, educator, independence activist, and writer
*[[Harshad Mehta]] (1954–2001), Indian stockbroker who was convicted of market manipulation and died of a heart attack at age 47.
*[[Hemant Mehta]] (born 1983), American-born Indian author
*[[Homi Maneck Mehta]] (1871–1948), Indian industrialist and philanthropist
*[[Jagat Singh Mehta]] (1922–2014), Foreign Secretary of India
*[[Jamshed Nusserwanjee Mehta]] (1886–1952), Mayor of Karachi
*[[Jarava Lal Mehta]] (1912–1988), Indian philosopher
*[[Jay Mehta]] (born 1961), businessman and owner of the Mehta Group
*[[Jehangir Mehta]] (born 1971), chef and owner of New York City restaurants
*[[Jivraj Narayan Mehta]] (1887–1978), Gujarat's first Chief Minister
*[[Kalu Mehta]] (1440–1522), father of Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak
*[[Laxmi Narayan Mehta]] (1980), former member of Bihar legislative assembly.
*[[Madan Lal Mehta]] (1932–2006), theoretical physicist in the field of random matrix theory
*[[Mehli Mehta]], (1908–2002): musician; founder of the Bombay Philharmonic and Bombay String Orchestras
*[[Nakuul Mehta]] (born 1983), actor and model
*[[Nariman Mehta]] (1920–2014), organic chemist and inventor of bupropion (Wellbutrin)
*[[Narsinh Mehta]], Gujarati spiritual poet
*[[Neil Mehta]], American venture capitalist
*[[Nicky Mehta]], singer, songwriter, member of Canadian folk trio The Wailin' Jennys
*[[Pherozeshah Mehta]] (1845–1915), Indian political leader, activist, and lawyer
*[[Phiroz Mehta]] (1902–1994), writer on religious topics, and philosopher
*[[Pratap Bhanu Mehta]] (born 1967), Indian academic and think tank
*[[Raj Mehta]]
*[[Russell Mehta]], Indian businessman
*[[Sahil Mehta]] (born 1988), Indian actor
*[[Samir Mehta]]
*[[Sargun Mehta]] (born 1988), Indian model, comedian, dancer, presenter and actress
*[[Shailendra Raj Mehta]] (born 1959), Indian economist, president and director, MICA
*[[Shekhar Mehta]] (1945–2006), Ugandan-born Kenyan rally driver
*[[Sonny Mehta]] (born Ajai Singh Mehta; 1942–2019), Indian book editor
*[[Suketu Mehta]] (born 1963), India-born American writer
*[[Tarak Mehta]] (Born Tarak Janubhai Mehta; 1929-2017), Indian writer, humorist, and playwright
*[[Tushar Mehta]]
*[[Tyeb Mehta]] (1925–2009), Indian painter
*[[Tulsidas Mehta]], multiple times Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly, a former minister in [[Government of Bihar]].
*[[Uday Singh Mehta]], American political scientist
*[[Veer Singh Mehta]] (born 1949), Indian neurosurgeon
*[[Veronica Mehta]], British Punjabi singer
*[[Vikram Bhagvandas Mehta]] (1946–2014), Indian mathematician
*[[Zarin Mehta]] (born 1938), executive director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra; brother of Zubin
*[[Zubeida Begum]] (1926-1952), Indian actress born to Faiza Bai and Shri Qasembhai Mehta; she was married to Maharaja of Jodhpur, [[Hanwant Singh]]
*[[Zubin Mehta]] (born 1936), Indian conductor of Western classical music


{{surname}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Gujarati-language surnames]]
[[Category:History of Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Surnames of Indian origin]]
[[Category:Hindustani-language surnames]]
[[Category:Surnames of Hindu origin]]

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Mehta