Maitra
| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Word/name | Bengali Hindu |
| Region of origin | Bengal |
Maitra (Bengali: মৈত্র), alternatively spelled as Moitra or Maitreya is a Bengali Hindu surname found mostly among the Bengali Brahmins of Varendra clan.[1]
History
The Maitra surname has deep roots in ancient Bengal. It is one of the Baidya surnames, the others being Sengupta, Dasgupta, Duttagupta, and Kar etc.[2][3] The Baidyas, who were traditionally physicians and Ayurvedic scholars, occupied a high social and intellectual status in Bengal’s caste hierarchy.[4]
Historical records from the medieval period mention Maitras as landowners, physicians,[5] and administrators in various parts of Bengal. During the Bengal Renaissance (19th century), several Maitra families became influential in education, literature, and social reform.[6]
Notables
- Sisir Kumar Maitra (1887–1963), Indian philosopher
- Radhika Mohan Maitra (1917–1981), Indian sarod player
- Shantanu Moitra (born 1968), Indian music director
- Krishnananda Agamavagisha, Moitra at birth, Bengali scholar
- Mahua Moitra (born 1974), Indian politician and member of parliament
- Sunil Maitra (1 February 1927 – 18 September 1996), Indian politician and member of parliament
See also
- Maitrī, a Buddhist philosophy
References
- ^ Bhattacharya, Jogendra Nath (1896). Hindu Castes and Sects. Kolkata: Thacker, Spink And Co. p. 42. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
- ^ Basu, Lokeśvara (1981). Āmādera padabīra itihāsa (in Bengali). Kalikātā: Ananda Publishers Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-81-7066-601-1.
- ^ Singh, K. S. (1996). Communities, Segments, Synonyms, Surnames and Titles. Delhi: Oxford University Press, USA. ISBN 978-0-19-563357-3.
- ^ Ray, Niharranjan (2013). History of the Bengali People: From Earliest Times to the Fall of the Sena Dynasty. ISBN 81-250-5053-1.
- ^ Chopra, Pran Nath (1982). Religions and Communities of India. London: East-West Publ. ISBN 978-0-85692-081-3.
- ^ Sarkar, Susobhan Chandra; Sarkar, Susobhan (1970). Bengal Renaissance and Other Essays. People's Publishing House. Retrieved 2025-11-04.