Modi is a surname in India, most commonly found among people from states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh.[citation needed]
Modi title is used by people of Baniya castes, from Agarwal to Barnwal to Teli Baniya. It's a Baniya surname but not specific to one baniya subcaste.[citation needed]
The Modi's from Rajasthan belong to the Vaishya Kshatriya Caste who are Suryavanshis.
However, as per popular folktale, Modi Jains of Gujarat migrated from Bihar to western states like Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan over centuries. The Modis who remained in the historical Jain places in Bihar consider themselves as part of Barnwals and practice Hinduism with reverence for Jain deities as well.[1][2]
Notable people with the surname Modi include:
- Asit Kumarr Modi, founder and director of Neela Tele Films
- B. K. Modi, chairman of Spice Global
- Gujarmal Modi (1902 - 1976), India industrialist and philanthropist, founder Modinagar
- Hitesh Modi (born 1971), Kenyan cricketer
- Ishwar Modi (born 1940), Indian sociologist
- Jashodaben Modi (born 1952), Spouse of the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi
- Jivanji Jamshedji Modi (1854-1933), Indian Zoroastrian priest
- Kal Penn, stage name of Kalpen Modi, American actor
- Karishma Modi (born 1980), Indian model and actress
- Krishan Kumar Modi (born 1940), Indian businessman
- Lalit Modi, Chief Commissioner of Indian Premier League
- Murugappa Channaveerappa Modi (1916 - 2005), Indian eye surgeon
- Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India
- Nirav Modi, Indian jeweller
- Russi Mody, A former chairman of Tata Steel Company
- Rusi Modi, A former Indian Batsman (Cricket)
- Samir Modi (born 1969), Indian entrepreneur
- Sohrab Modi, Indian cinema actor
- Subhash Modi (born 1946), Kenyan cricket umpire
- Sushil Kumar Modi, 3rd Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party
- Virali Modi (born 1991), Indian disability rights activist