Harman23 at 01:52, 6 March 2026

2026-03-06T01:52:57Z

WikiDwarf at 05:51, 9 January 2023

2023-01-09T05:51:59Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:21, 9 January 2023
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	The [[Bengali Muslim]] Mirashdars{{NoteTag\|''Mirashdar'' is a term referring to a landowner who pays taxes directly to the government.<ref>{{cite book\|last=Laskar\|first=Nitish Ranjan\|title=Mahishya Das of Cachar and their Social Background\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NjRuAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Mirashdar,+he+being+a+land+holder+in+his+own+right+and+paying+revenue+direct+to+the+Govt%22&dq=%22Mirashdar,+he+being+a+land+holder+in+his+own+right+and+paying+revenue+direct+to+the+Govt%22\|series=Proceedings of North East India History Association\|year=1985\|publisher=North East India History Association\|page=456}}</ref>}} living in the former [[Kachari Kingdom]] were given titles by the Kachari Raja, which in modern-day acts as a surname for them.<ref name=heads>{{cite book\|title=Principal Heads of the History and Statistics of the Dacca Division\|chapter=Cachar District: Statement No. XVIII: Glossary of Local Terms \|pages=406–408\|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/principalheadsh00unkngoog/page/n419\|year=1868\|location=[[Calcutta]]\|author=E M Lewis\|publisher=Calcutta Central Press Company}}</ref>		The [[Bengali Muslim]] Mirashdars{{NoteTag\|''Mirashdar'' is a term referring to a landowner who pays taxes directly to the government.<ref>{{cite book\|last=Laskar\|first=Nitish Ranjan\|title=Mahishya Das of Cachar and their Social Background\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NjRuAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Mirashdar,+he+being+a+land+holder+in+his+own+right+and+paying+revenue+direct+to+the+Govt%22&dq=%22Mirashdar,+he+being+a+land+holder+in+his+own+right+and+paying+revenue+direct+to+the+Govt%22\|series=Proceedings of North East India History Association\|year=1985\|publisher=North East India History Association\|page=456}}</ref>}} living in the former [[Kachari Kingdom]] were given titles by the Kachari Raja, which in modern-day acts as a surname for them.<ref name=heads>{{cite book\|title=Principal Heads of the History and Statistics of the Dacca Division\|chapter=Cachar District: Statement No. XVIII: Glossary of Local Terms \|pages=406–408\|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/principalheadsh00unkngoog/page/n419\|year=1868\|location=[[Calcutta]]\|author=E M Lewis\|publisher=Calcutta Central Press Company}}</ref>

	In Bihar, the [[Pasi (caste)\|Pasi]] ~~are~~ also known as the ''Chaudhary'', a community traditionally connected with [[toddy tapping]].<ref name="S Gopal pages 759">People of India Bihar Volume XVI Part Two edited by S Gopal & Hetukar Jha pages 759 to 765 Seagull Books</ref>		In Bihar, the [[Pasi (caste)\|Pasi]] is also known as the ''Chaudhary'', a community traditionally connected with [[toddy tapping]].<ref name="S Gopal pages 759">People of India Bihar Volume XVI Part Two edited by S Gopal & Hetukar Jha pages 759 to 765 Seagull Books</ref>

	==Alternate spellings==		==Alternate spellings==
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	* Justice [[Abu Sayeed Chowdhury]], second President of Bangladesh		* Justice [[Abu Sayeed Chowdhury]], second President of Bangladesh
	* Justice [[A. F. M. Ahsanuddin Chowdhury]], 9th President of Bangladesh		* Justice [[A. F. M. Ahsanuddin Chowdhury]], 9th President of Bangladesh
	* [[Anwarul Karim Chowdhury]], former UN Under Secretary General		* [[Anwarul Karim Chowdhury]], former UN Under-Secretary General
	* [[Ariful Haque Choudhury]], Mayor of [[Sylhet]]		* [[Ariful Haque Choudhury]], Mayor of [[Sylhet]]
	* [[A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury]], 13th President of Bangladesh		* [[A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury]], 13th President of Bangladesh

>Ilhamnobi: /* Notable people */

2021-11-03T09:57:11Z

Notable people

New page

{{Short description|Surname in the Indian subcontinent}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox surname
|name = Chowdhury
|pronunciation = ''chow-dhuree''<br/> ''chaw-dree''<br/> ''chow-dree''
|imagesize =
|caption =
|meaning = Holder of four; four-way duties; four responsibilities
|region = Indian subcontinent
|origin = Indo-Aryan
|variant = Chaudhary, Chaudri, Choudhary, Chaudhry, Chowdary, Chowdhary, Chaudry, Choudary, Choudhry, Chaudhuri, Chaudhari, Chudhry, Choudhari, Choudhury, Chowdhuri, Chowduri, Chaudhurani, Choudhurani, Chowdhurani, Chowdhrani, Choudhrani, Chaudhrani.
|footnotes =
}}
'''Chowdhury''' is a [[surname]] and [[hereditary title]] of [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Hindi]] and [[Urdu]] origin. It means the "holder of four". During [[British India|British rule in the Indian subcontinent]], the term was associated with [[zamindars|landowners]] and social leaders; the common female equivalent was Chowdhurani.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/magazine/2008/08/01/history.htm|title=::: Star Weekend Magazine :::|website=archive.thedailystar.net}}</ref> Many landlords under the [[Permanent Settlement]] carried this surname. Land reforms after the [[partition of India]] abolished the permanent settlement. In modern times, the term is a common South Asian surname for both males and females.

==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")).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=chaudhury|title=Chaudhury Name Meaning & Chaudhury Family History at Ancestry.com®|website=www.ancestry.com}}</ref> The name is an ancient Sanskrit term denoting the head of a community or caste.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://surnames.behindthename.com/name/chaudhary/submitted|title=User-submitted surname Choudhry|last=Campbell|first=Mike|website=Behind the Name|access-date=5 April 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Hanks"/> These people belonged to the [[zamindar]] families in [[British India]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India, Volume 51|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DfeBAAAAMAAJ&q=chowdhury+title+brahmin|page=204|publisher=Anthropology Survey of India|year = 2002}}</ref>

===Regional ===
In the [[Chittagong Hill Tracts]], the titular ''[[Raja]]s'' of the [[Bohmong Circle]] and [[Mong Circle]] have the surname Chowdhury.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ext.bd.undp.org/insidestory/Lists/InsideStoryEventsMaster/DispForm.aspx?ID=110|title=InsideStoryEventsMaster - Raj Punyah Ceremony Held Both in Bandarban...|website=ext.bd.undp.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-71831|title=Saching Prue new Mong King|date=18 January 2009|website=The Daily Star}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://en.people.cn/90001/90777/90851/6553229.html|title=Feature: 'Kingdom' system in Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill Tracts still in force - People's Daily Online|website=en.people.cn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unpo.org/article/14112|title=UNPO: Chittagong Hill Tracts: Stalemate For Land Commission|website=unpo.org}}</ref>

The [[Bengali Muslim]] Mirashdars{{NoteTag|''Mirashdar'' is a term referring to a landowner who pays taxes directly to the government.<ref>{{cite book|last=Laskar|first=Nitish Ranjan|title=Mahishya Das of Cachar and their Social Background|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NjRuAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Mirashdar,+he+being+a+land+holder+in+his+own+right+and+paying+revenue+direct+to+the+Govt%22&dq=%22Mirashdar,+he+being+a+land+holder+in+his+own+right+and+paying+revenue+direct+to+the+Govt%22|series=Proceedings of North East India History Association|year=1985|publisher=North East India History Association|page=456}}</ref>}} living in the former [[Kachari Kingdom]] were given titles by the Kachari Raja, which in modern-day acts as a surname for them.<ref name=heads>{{cite book|title=Principal Heads of the History and Statistics of the Dacca Division|chapter=Cachar District: Statement No. XVIII: Glossary of Local Terms |pages=406–408|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/principalheadsh00unkngoog/page/n419|year=1868|location=[[Calcutta]]|author=E M Lewis|publisher=Calcutta Central Press Company}}</ref>

In Bihar, the [[Pasi (caste)|Pasi]] are also known as the ''Chaudhary'', a community traditionally connected with [[toddy tapping]].<ref name="S Gopal pages 759">People of India Bihar Volume XVI Part Two edited by S Gopal & Hetukar Jha pages 759 to 765 Seagull Books</ref>

==Alternate spellings==
Its alternate spellings include: Chaudhary, Chaudri, Choudhary, Chaudhry, Chowdary, Chowdhary, Chaudry, Choudary, Choudhry, Chaudhuri, Chaudhari, Chudhry, Choudhari, Choudhury, Chowdhuri and Chowdury.<ref name="Hanks">{{cite book|title=The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0AyDDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA501|page=501|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2016|author=Patrick Hanks, Richard Coates, Peter McClure|isbn = 9780192527479}}</ref> The female equivalent is Chaudhurani and alternate spellings include: Choudhurani, Chowdhurani, Chowdhrani, Choudhrani, Chaudhrani.

==Notable people==
[[File:Faizunnesa.jpg|thumb|[[Faizunnesa Choudhurani]]]]
[[File:Choudhry Rahmat Ali.jpg|thumb|[[Choudhry Rahmat Ali]]]]
[[File:Sophie Choudry graces at Timekeepers Chopard event (07) (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Sophie Choudry]]]]
[[File:General Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri.jpg|thumb|[[Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri]]]]
[[File:Chanchal Chowdhury (2).jpg|thumb|[[Chanchal Chowdhury]]]]
[[File:Rezwana Choudhury Bannya New Jersey 2.jpg|thumb|[[Rezwana Choudhury Bannya]]]]

===Bangladesh===
* [[Abdul Munim Chowdhury]], former [[Member of parliament#Bangladesh|MP]] for [[Habiganj-1]]
* [[Abdur Rouf Choudhury]], writer
* [[Abu Lais Md. Mubin Chowdhury]], former [[Member of parliament#Bangladesh|MP]] for [[Habiganj-3]]
* [[Abu Osman Chowdhury]], Sector Commander of the [[Mukti Bahini]]
* Justice [[Abu Sayeed Chowdhury]], second President of Bangladesh
* Justice [[A. F. M. Ahsanuddin Chowdhury]], 9th President of Bangladesh
* [[Anwarul Karim Chowdhury]], former UN Under Secretary General
* [[Ariful Haque Choudhury]], Mayor of [[Sylhet]]
* [[A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury]], 13th President of Bangladesh
* [[Ayesha Bedora Choudhury]], doctor
* Justice [[Badrul Haider Chowdhury]], fifth Chief Justice of Bangladesh
* [[Chanchal Chowdhury]], actor
* [[Fazlul Qadir Chaudhry]], 5th Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan
* [[Chowdhury Gulam Akbar]], writer and collector of [[Bengali folk literature]] for the [[Bangla Academy]]
* [[Chowdhury Tanbir Ahmed Siddiky]], former Minister of Commerce
* [[Harris Chowdhury]], former [[Member of parliament#Bangladesh|MP]] for [[Sylhet-5]]
* [[Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury]], 11th [[Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army]]
* [[Humayun Rashid Choudhury]], 41st President of the United Nations General Assembly & 7th Speaker of the Bangladesh National Parliament
* [[Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury]], diplomat and former [[Foreign Minister of Bangladesh|Foreign Affairs Adviser]]
* [[Jamilur Reza Choudhury]], president of [[Bangladesh Mathematical Olympiad]], vice-chancellor of [[University of Asia Pacific]], adviser to [[Caretaker Government of Bangladesh]]
* [[Chowdhury Kazemuddin Ahmed Siddiky]], founding president of Assam Bengal Muslim League
* [[Mahmudul Amin Choudhury]], 11th [[Chief Justice of Bangladesh]]
* [[Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury]], former [[Member of parliament#Bangladesh|MP]] for [[Sylhet-3]]
* Justice [[Mainur Reza Chowdhury]], 12th Chief Justice of Bangladesh
* [[Mehazabien Chowdhury]], Bangladeshi actress
* [[Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury]], fifth Prime Minister of Bangladesh
* [[Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury]], Bangladeshi journalist and editor turned politician. Advisor to the President of Bangladesh (2006-2007)
* [[Naiyyum Choudhury]], biotechnologist and nuclear scientist
* [[Najma Chowdhury]], founder of the Women and Gender Studies department in the [[University of Dhaka]], adviser to [[Caretaker Government of Bangladesh]]
* [[Nazim Kamran Choudhury]], former [[Member of parliament#Bangladesh|MP]]
* [[Rashed Chowdhury]], former Army officer, currently in exile in the United States
* [[Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya|Rezwana Chowdhury]], renowned exponent of Tagore songs
* [[Sadruddin Ahmed Chowdhury]], physicist and vice-chancellor of [[Shahjalal University of Science and Technology]] and [[Sylhet International University]]
* [[Salah Choudhury]], editor of ''[[Weekly Blitz]]''
* [[Samarjit Roy Chowdhury]], painter
* [[Syed Nawab Ali Chowdhury]], Nawab of Dhanbari, [[Tangail District|Tangail]]
* [[Shamima K Choudhury]], physicist and advocate for women in science
* [[Shamsher M. Chowdhury]], Bangladeshi diplomat and former [[Foreign Secretary (Bangladesh)|secretary]] of the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs]]
* [[Shamsul Huda Chaudhury]], third Speaker of the Bangladesh National Parliament
* [[Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury]], Speaker of the Bangladesh National Parliament
* [[Shayan Chowdhury Arnob|Shayan Chowdhury]], Bengali indie musician and singer
* [[Samson H. Chowdhury]], Bengali Christian entrepreneur and business leader
* [[Tapan Chowdhury (singer)|Tapan Chowdhury]], Bengali singer of Adhunik songs
* [[Yahya Chowdhury]], former [[Member of parliament#Bangladesh|MP]] for [[Sylhet-2]]
* [[Yeamin Ahmed Chowdhury Munna]], footballer for [[Chittagong Abahani]]
* [[Yakub Ali Chowdhury]], Bengali essayist

===India===
*[[Mahendra Mohan Choudhury]], Chief Minister of Assam and Governor of Punjab
* [[Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury]], 19th century aristocrat
* [[Amitabh Chaudhry]] (born 1964/65), Indian banker, CEO and MD of Axis Bank
* [[Anjan Choudhury]], Bengali film director and writer
* [[A. B. A. Gani Khan Choudhury]], Railway Minister of India
* [[Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury]], Indian film director
* [[Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury]], member of the [[16th Lok Sabha]] of India
* [[Arindam Chaudhuri]], Indian author
* [[Rahul Chaudhari]], Indian kabaddi player
* [[Somlata Acharyya Chowdhury]], Indian singer
* [[Sonali Chowdhury]], Indian actress
* [[Chumki Chowdhury|Chumki Choudhury]], Indian actress
* [[Rina Choudhury]], Indian actress
* [[Tridha Choudhury]], Indian actress
* [[Jogen Chowdhury]], 21st century Indian painter
* [[Pramatha Chaudhuri]], 19th century Bengali writer and an influential figure in [[Bengali literature]]
* [[Salil Chowdhury]], Indian music director & composer
* [[Nirad C. Chaudhuri]], Indian writer
* [[Shankar Roychowdhury]], Chief of Staff of the [[Indian Army]]
* [[Mrinal Datta Chaudhuri]], theoretical economist, academic and professor of the [[Delhi School of Economics]].
* [[Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri]], Chief of Staff of the Indian Army
*[[Ravi Shankar]] (born Rabindra Shankar Chowdhury), [[Music of India|Indian musician]] and a composer of [[Hindustani classical music]]
* [[Bula Choudhury]], Indian national women's swimming champion
* [[Sarita Choudhury]], Indian actress and model
* [[Charan Singh|Chaudhary Charan Singh]], 6th Prime Minister of India
* [[Pratik Chaudhari]] (born 1989), Indian footballer playing as a defender for Jamshedpur
* [[Veerabhadram Chowdary]], film director
* [[Renuka Chowdhury]], Union Minister of State
* [[Saifuddin Choudhury]], former Member of Parliament
* [[Jagapathi Babu|Veeramachineni Jagapathi Rao Chowdary]], Telugu film actor
* [[Chaudhary Devi Lal]], Deputy Prime Minister of India
* [[K. V. Chowdary]], Indian Revenue Service Central Vigilance Commissioner
* [[Chaudhary Harmohan Singh Yadav]], Shaurya Chakra awardee<ref name="M. L. Ahuja">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PCrZLq_gEcUC&q=chaudhary+yadav&pg=PA340|title=Handbook of General Elections and Electoral Reforms in India, 1952-1999|publisher=Mittal Publications|first=M. L.|last=Ahuja|year=2000|pages=302, 340|isbn=9788170997665}}</ref>
* [[Shagun Chowdhary]], Indian shooter
* [[Chaudhary Brahm Prakash Yadav]], Chief Minister, Delhi
* [[Mahima Chaudhry]], Indian actress and model
* [[Mohinder Singh Chaudhury]], Indian politician
* [[Sophie Choudry]], Indian actress and dancer
* [[Rita Chowdhury]], established poet and novelist, [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] recipient
* [[Aadesh Chaudhary]], Indian actor
* [[R. B. Choudary]], Indian film producer
* [[Y. S. Chowdary]], Indian central minister for state
* [[Gurmeet Choudhary]], Indian television actor
* [[Ranjit Chowdhry]], Indian actor
* [[Karmveer Choudhary]], Indian actor
* [[Kamla Chaudhry]] (born 1908), Indian short story writer
* [[Yuvika Chaudhary]] (born 1983), Indian actress
*[[Amit Chaudhuri]], Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
*[[Ankush Chaudhari]], Marathi film actor
*[[Ambikagiri Raichoudhury]], Assamese poet
* [[Moinul Hoque Choudhury]], five-time [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]], two-time [[United Nations General Assembly|UN General Assembly]] representative and Minister of Industrial Development
* [[Rashida Haque Choudhury]], former Minister of State of Social Welfare

===Nepal===
* [[Binod Chaudhary]], Nepalese billionaire

===Fiji===
* [[Mahendra Chaudhry]], former Prime Minister of Fiji

===Pakistan===
*[[Cecil Chaudhry]], Pakistani academic, human rights activist, veteran fighter pilot
*[[Chaudhary Rahmat Ali]], Pakistani Movement activist
*[[Chaudhry Muhammad Ali]], fourth Prime Minister of Pakistan
*[[Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry]], fifth President of Pakistan
*[[Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain]], 14th Prime Minister of Pakistan
*[[Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry]], former Chief Justice of Pakistan
*[[Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan]], Minister of Interior of Pakistan<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pakistanileaders.com.pk/profile/Chaudhry_Nisar_Ali_Khan |title=Pakistani Leaders Online|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720022527/http://pakistanileaders.com.pk/profile/Chaudhry_Nisar_Ali_Khan|archive-date=20 July 2018|access-date=17 January 2021}}</ref>

===United Kingdom===
* [[Akhlaq Choudhury]], Judge of the British [[High Court of Justice]]
* [[Anwar Choudhury]], diplomat at the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]]; former [[Governor of the Cayman Islands]], [[British Ambassador to Peru]] and [[List of High Commissioners of the United Kingdom to Bangladesh|British High Commissioner to Bangladesh]]
* [[Anjem Choudary]], Islamist political activist
* [[Foysol Choudhury]] [[Member of the British Empire|MBE]] – Businessman, community activist and Chairman of Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council.
* [[Hamza Choudhury]], [[midfielder]] for English football club [[Leicester City F.C.]]
* [[Khaled Choudhury]], theatre personality and artist
* [[Mamun Chowdhury]] – Businessman, and founder and co-director of [[London Tradition]].
* [[Navin Chowdhry]] - British actor
* [[Roshonara Choudhry]], British Islamic extremist
* [[Shamim Chowdhury]], TV and print journalist for [[Al Jazeera English]]
* [[Shefali Chowdhury]], actress best known for the role of [[Padma Patil]] in [[Harry Potter (film series)|Harry Potter]]
* [[Paul Chowdhry]] English comedian of Punjabi origin.

===United States===
* [[Jay Chaudhry]] (born 1958/1959), American billionaire, CEO and founder of Zscaler
* [[Michael Chowdry]], founder of cargo airliner Atlas Air
* [[Satveer Chaudhary]], former Minnesota state senator
* [[Subir Chowdhury]], author and management consultant

===Chaudhurani===
* [[Faizunnesa Choudhurani]], Muslim feminist and awarded the title [[Nawab]] by [[Queen Victoria]]
* [[Indira Devi Chaudhurani]], Indian literary figure, author and musician.
* [[Karimunnesa Khanam Chaudhurani]], Bengali poet, social worker, and patron of literature.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hossain|first1=Anowar|title=Muslim women's struggle for freedom in colonial Bengal: (1873-1940)|date=2003|publisher=Progressive Publishers|isbn=9788180640308|page=266|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=84JuAAAAMAAJ&q=Karimunnesa+Khanam+Chaudhurani|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Sarala Devi Chaudhurani]], founder of the first women's organisation in India, the Bharat Stree Mahamandal in Allahabad in 1910.

==Notes==
{{NoteFoot}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{surname}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bengali-language surnames]]
[[Category:Titles in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Indian surnames]]
[[Category:Pakistani names]]
[[Category:Punjabi-language surnames]]
[[Category:Gujarati-language surnames]]

Chowdhury - Revision history

Harman23 at 01:52, 6 March 2026

WikiDwarf at 05:51, 9 January 2023

>Ilhamnobi: /* Notable people */