50 Popular Gujarati Surnames Or Last Names With Meanings

For decades, Popular Gujarati Surnames, a state in Western India with a rich cultural heritage, has delighted us with its distinctive dancing styles and mouthwatering cuisine. We are also still impressed by its intriguing and well-liked Gujarati surnames. These last names, which distinguish its members from others, are based on occupational, geographic, and ethnic backgrounds and provide information about the history and cultural legacy of the community. They also reveal a person's origins, social class, religious affiliation, and, in some situations, caste. Gujarati society is diverse, as evidenced by these distinctive features. Explore this list as we present a list of Gujarati surnames along with their meanings.

List of Meaningful Gujarati Last Names or Surnames

1. The Acharya

Acharya, a popular Gujarati last name, comes from the Sanskrit word "Acarya," which means "one who teaches conduct" or "a spiritual leader."

2. Adhvaryu

"Best among priests who perform Yagna" is the Sanskrit term from which the surname is derived.

3. Ambani

Given to members of the "Modh Bania Religion," Ambani has a religious background. Members of the business community that have the Ambani last name include Baniya (Vaishanav).

4. Amin

The Hindu Gujarati Patels were granted the knighthood of Amin by the Mughal emperors. Amin, formerly known as the Patidar caste in Gujarat, most likely originated as a term used to describe those who collected taxes for the Mughal Empire.

5. Amroliwala

The toponymic surname designates people who were originated from Gujarat's Amroli area of Surat.

6. Barot

Originally, a community that was descended from the Bhat group was called Barot. Members of the Barot community typically work as bards and genealogists, who research and create pedigrees.

7. Choksi

The Gujarati term "Coksi," meaning "assayer of gold and silver," is the source of the Gujarati surname "Choksi."

8. Chowdhury

A monarch most likely gave a warrior or nobleman the surname Chowdhury as a mark of honor. In Sanskrit, chowdhury means "holder of four," where four most likely denotes the amount of land that the Popular Gujarati Surnames.

9. Dalal

The Arabic term "dallal" or "aldilal," which means "auctioneer," is the source of the word "dalal." For individuals who were dealers, brokers, or merchants, the last name Dalal would have been occupational.

10. The Daruwala

The Gujarati terms "daru," which means alcohol, and "wala," which indicates manufacturer or merchant, are combined to form the term "daruwala." Originally, it was a professional term for someone who made or sold alcoholic beverages.

11. Dave

The Sanskrit term "dvivedi," which denotes a person who has studied and mastered two Vedas, is the source of the surname.

12. Desai

The Sanskrit terms "desa," which means "country," and "swami," which means "master" or "lord," combine to form the commonly used Gujarati surname "desai." Therefore, the name Desai means "landlord."

13. The Dholakia

The term "Dholakia" has vocational origins and describes a person who trades in "Dhodka," or raw gray fabric.

14. Doshi

A frequent Gujarati last name is Doshi, which translates to "cloth-selling hawker." Most likely, the last name would have been occupational.

15. Gandhi

One of the most well-known Indian last names is Gandhi, which is derived from the Sanskrit word "gandha," which means fragrance. The term "Gandhi" describes a person who sells scents, specifically perfumes.

16. The Gajjar

A Gujarati sub-caste belonging to the Suthar group is represented by the last name Gajjar. Carpentry is the primary occupation of the Suthar people.

17. Ganjawala

It's unclear exactly what the Ganjawala surname means. The term "ganjawala" is said to have an occupational history, nevertheless, and refers to people or their predecessors who grew or sold ganja (cannabis).

18. Gupta

The widespread Gujarati surname Gupta comes from the Sanskrit word "Gupt," which means "secret" or "protected." Additionally, it is a Bengali surname.

19. Hathiwala

The term "Hathi," which signifies elephant, is most likely the source of the last name. Hathiwala might therefore refer to a person who cares for or trains elephants.

20. The Jain

It is a very typical Gujarati last name and signifies that the individual is a Jainist. The Sanskrit word "jina," which signifies triumph, is where the term "Jain" originates.

21. Zariwala and Jariwala

The phrase "Jari/Zari," which describes the gleaming gold and silver threads used in Indian clothing, is most likely where the Gujarati surname gets its origin. A person with the last name Jariwala or Zariwala most likely makes and sells jari or zari.

22. Joshi

Joshi's name comes from the Sanskrit word "Jyotisha," which means "astrologer." Additionally, it is a typical Marathi last name.

23. Kapadia

In Gujarati, the common surname Kapadia means "cloth merchant."

24. Kothari

The terms "Kotha" or "Kothar," which translate to "treasury" or "godown," are the origin of the name Kothari. Thus, the last name alludes to a treasurer.

25. The Kotadiya

This toponymic surname designates people who were originating from the Gujarati hamlet of Kotadiya in the Jamnagar district.

26. Kotecha

Kotecha is probably an occupational surname that denotes a commercial community with merchant ancestry.

27. Lakhani

"Descendant of Lakh" is the meaning of the last name Lakhani. The Sanskrit term "Laksmana," which means "one who has auspicious marks," is the root of the English word "Lakh." Another frequent surname among Sindhis is Lakhani.

28. Mehta

The Sanskrit word "mahita," which meaning "great" or "praised," is where the term "mehta" originates.

29. Mistry

The Hindustani word "mistri," which is derived from the Portuguese word "mestre," meaning "an expert" or "a master," is most likely the source of the surname. A mason or any other expert craftsman is referred to as a "mistri." For someone who hails from a family of masons or craftspeople, the surname is therefore Popular Gujarati Surnames.

30. Modi

Modi has a professional background and speaks of people who come from the "Bania" society, which was formerly made up of traders, merchants, moneylenders, and shopkeepers.

31. Munim

The Hindustani term "Munim," which describes the head accountant of a store, factory, or other commercial facility, is the source of the last name. Consequently, the last name has an occupational origin.

32. Ojha

A Sanskrit phrase that meaning "he who meditates for entire life" is the source of the surname.

33. Panchal

It is believed that the Hindustani word "panch," which means "five," is the source of this Gujarati surname. Those who belonged to any of the five craft communities—blacksmiths, goldsmiths, coppersmiths, carpenters, and stonemasons—were probably referred to as Panchal.

34. Pandya

The Sanskrit term "pandit," which signifies scholar or teacher, is the source of the last name.

35. Parikh/Parekh

The Sanskrit term "parekh" comes from "pariksaka," which means "an examiner." The surname probably referred to those who worked as gold, silver, and other precious item assayers in Gujarat.

36. Patel

The term "Patlikh," which was a title bestowed by the monarch upon a person who served as a record keeper of harvests and taxes from a plot of land, is the root of the word "Patel." To indicate a village chief or headman, the surname "Patlikh" changed to "Patel."

37. Popat

It is the term for a parrot in Gujarati. The last name could have been connected to those who cared for birds in general or parrots in particular.

38. Purohit

A priest with the Brahmin surname Purohit is referred to as a "family priest" or one who consistently leads a pooja, or prayer ritual. The surname designates people who were descended from "Purohits."

39. Rawal/Raval

The Sanskrit term "Raja," which means "king," is where Rawal/Raval gets its start. Therefore, those who originally originated from a line of commanders or monarchs are referred to as Rawal/Raval.

40. Rubberwala

The surname's precise meaning is unclear. Nonetheless, it is believed that "Rubberwala" likely had a professional background and refers to those who made or sold rubber.

41. Sarabhai

The surname's precise meaning is unclear. The last name is presumed to have been a nobleman or noblewoman's title. The Gujarati words "sara," which means "good," and "bhai," which means "brother," "man," or any other significant individual, are probably the source of the surname.

Sanghavi/Sanghvi 42.

The Sanskrit word "sangha," which means "assembly," is whence Sanghvi gets its name. It is probable that the surname "Sanghvi" means "someone who offers hospitality to Jain pilgrims."

43. Screwvala

The surname's precise meaning is unclear. It most likely combines the terms "wala," which means manufacturer or merchant, and "screw." Consequently, the last name suggests a person who most likely manufactured or marketed screws.

44. Shah

Shah's name comes from the Gujarati term "sahukaar," which meaning moneylender, banker, or merchant. Consequently, the last name has an occupational origin.

45. Sheth

It is derived from the Gujarati word "sheth" or "seth," which meaning "head," "master," or "chief." This occupational surname suggests a person who works as a proprietor or supervisor.

46. Shroff

The term "seraf," which meaning banker, cashier, or money-lender in Gujarati, is the root of the word "Shroff." Consequently, the last name has an occupational origin.

47. Thakkar

The term "Thakkura," which means "God" or "deity" in Middle Indo-Aryan or Sanskrit, is probably whence Thakkar gets its name.

48. Tripathi

The word "tripathi" comes from the Sanskrit word "tripa," which means "one who has studied the three Vedas."

49. Virani

"Descendant of Vir" is the meaning of the widespread Gujarati and Sindhi surname Virani. The Sanskrit word "Vira," which means "hero," is where the term "Vir" originates.

50. Vyas

The Sanskrit word "vyasa," which means "compiler," is the source of a surname. The last name would have been connected to people who worked as ancient text compilers.