Show your Gujarati friends that you understand the significance of their surnames or last names.
For many years, the state of Gujarat in Western India has been known for its rich culture, unique dances, and delicious food. The distinctive Gujarati surnames or last name help them to be easily recognized. These Gujarati surnames or last names have their origins in ethnicity, geography, and occupation. If you are interested in learning more, check out this list of Gujarati last names and their meanings.
Famous Gujarati Surnames Or Last Names With Meanings
- Acharya
The Gujarati surname Acharya comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Acarya’ which means a spiritual leader or a teacher of conduct.
- Adhvaryu
This Gujarati surname comes from a Sanskrit word that means ‘the top priest who conducts Yagna.’
- Ambani
The Gujarati surname Ambani comes from a religious background and is associated with people from the ‘Modh Bania Religion.’ People with the last name Ambani are part of the Baniya (Vaishanav) group and are from the business community.
- Amin
The Gujarati surname Amin was given to Hindu Gujarati Patels by the Mughal rulers. Amin likely started off as members of the Patidar caste in Gujarat who were tax collectors for the Mughal Empire.
- Amroliwala
The Gujarati surname is based on a place name and is used for people who came from the Amroli area in Surat, Gujarat.
- Barot
Barot was a group of people that separated from the Bhat community. Members of the Barot group typically worked as genealogists and storytellers.
- Choksi
The Gujarati surname Choksi comes from the Gujarati word ‘Coksi’ that refers to someone who tests gold and silver for purity.
- Chowdhury
The Gujarati surname Chowdhury was probably given as a sign of respect by a king to a warrior or nobleman. In Sanskrit, Chowdhury means ‘holder of four,’ which likely represented the amount of land granted by the king.
- Dalal
The Gujarati surname Dalal comes from the Arabic word ‘dallal’ or ‘aldilal,’ which means someone who conducts auctions. The last name Dalal likely indicated that a person worked as a trader, broker, or merchant.
- Daruwala
The Gujarati surname Daruwala comes from the Gujarati words ‘daru,’ which means alcohol, and ‘wala,’ which means seller or maker. It was traditionally used to describe someone who makes or sells alcohol as part of their job.
- Dave
The Gujarati surname comes from the word ‘dvivedi’ in Sanskrit, which means someone who has learned and become skilled in two Vedas.
- Desai
The Gujarati surname Desai is a common last name in the Gujarati community, made up of the Sanskrit words ‘desa’ which means country, and ‘swami’ which means master or lord. In essence, Desai translates to ‘landlord.’
- Dholakia
The Gujarati surname Dholakia comes from someone who works with unprocessed grey cloth called ‘Dhodka.’
- Doshi
The Gujarati surname Doshi is a popular last name in Gujarat, and it translates to a ‘seller of cloth.’ This last name probably originated from a person’s occupation.
- Gandhi
This Gujarati last name comes from the Sanskrit term ‘gandha,’ which means scent. The last name ‘Gandhi’ specifically describes a person who sells scents, such as a perfume vendor.
- Gajjar
The Gujarati surname Gajjar is associated with a Gujarati sub-group within the Suthar community. The Suthar community mainly works in carpentry.
- Ganjawala
It is believed that this Gujarati surname Ganjawala might come from a job related to making or selling cannabis.
- Gupta
A common Indian Gujarati surname typically used by people of the Hindu religion. The surname Gupta is commonly found among Gujarati people and comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Gupt,’ which means protected or secret.
- Hathiwala
This Gujarati last name likely comes from the term ‘Hathi,’ which translates to elephant. So, Hathiwala might refer to a person who cares for or teaches elephants.
- Jain
It is a frequently seen Gujarati surname in the Gujarati community, typically identifying someone as a follower of Jainism. The name Jain originates from the Sanskrit word ‘jina,’ which translates to winning or victory.
- Jariwala/Zariwala
The last name Gujarati is likely named after the term ‘Jari/Zari,’ which is used for the glittery gold and silver threads in Indian clothing. The Gujarati surname Jariwala or Zariwala probably indicates a person who makes and sells these threads.
- Joshi
The Gujarati surname Joshi comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Jyotisha,’ which means ‘astrologer.’
- Kapadia
The Gujarati surname Kapadia is a popular last name in Gujarat and it means ‘cloth merchant’ in the Gujarati language.
- Kothari
The Gujarati surname Kothari comes from the words ‘Kotha’ or ‘Kothar,’ which mean treasury or warehouse. The last name is used to indicate a person who manages money.
- Kotadiya
This Gujarati last name comes from a place name and indicates that the person is from Kotadiya village in Jamnagar district of Gujarat.
- Kotecha
The Gujarati surname Kotecha is probably a last name that comes from a group of people who were merchants in the past.
- Lakhani
The Gujarati last name Lakhani derives from the term ‘descendant of Lakh.’ ‘Lakh’ originates from the Sanskrit word ‘Laksmana,’ which translates to ‘one who has lucky symbols.’ Lakhani is a popular last name among Sindhis.
- Mehta
The Gujarati surname ‘Mehta’ originates from the Sanskrit word ‘mahita,’ which translates to ‘great’ or ‘praised.’
- Mistry
This Gujarati last name probably originates from the word ‘mistri’ in Hindustani, which is derived from the Portuguese word ‘mestre’ that means an expert or a master.
- Mistri
Mistri is typically used to describe a mason or another skilled craftsman. Therefore, the surname is related to a person who belongs to a family of masons or artisans.
- Modi
The Gujarati surname Modi originated from a group called ‘Bania’ who were merchants, traders, money-lenders, and shopkeepers.
- Munim
This Gujarati last name originated from the Hindustani term ‘Munim’ which describes the chief accountant at a store, factory, or other business. This means that the last name has to do with someone’s job.
- Ojha
This Gujarati last name comes from a Sanskrit term that means ‘someone who meditates for their whole life.’
- Panchal
This Gujarati last name likely comes from the word ‘panch’ in Hindi/Urdu meaning ‘five.’ It is believed that the name Panchal was used for people who were part of artisanal groups like blacksmiths, goldsmiths, coppersmiths, carpenters, and stonemasons.
- Pandya
This Gujarati last name comes from the Sanskrit term ‘pandit’ which refers to an educator or learned individual.
- Parekh/Parikh
The Gujarati surname Parekh comes from the Sanskrit word ‘pariksaka,’ which means someone who examines things. In Gujarat, people with the surname probably worked as assessors of gold, silver, and other valuable items.
- Patel
The Gujarati surname originated from ‘Patlikh,’ which was a title bestowed by a king on a person responsible for keeping records of crops and taxes on a piece of land. Over time, the surname ‘Patlikh’ transformed into ‘Patel’ to indicate a village chief or headman of a village.
- Popat
The surname in Gujarati for a parrot is used as a last name. People with this surname may have a history of being fond of parrots or caring for birds.
- Purohit
Purohit is a Gujarati surname used to describe a family priest or a priest who leads prayer rituals. The surname is given to those who come from a family of Purohits.
- Raval/Rawal
The Gujarati surname Rawal/Raval comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Raja,’ which means king. This means that Rawal/Raval is used to describe people who have ancestors that were commanders or kings.
- Rubberwala
The meaning of the last name ‘Rubberwala’ is not known for certain. It is believed to likely come from a person’s occupation, possibly someone who sold or made rubber.
- Sarabhai
The last name is probably made up of two Gujarati words: ‘sara’ which means good, and ‘bhai’ which can mean brother, man, or a person of importance.
- Sanghavi/Sanghvi
The Gujarati surname Sanghvi comes from the Sanskrit word ‘sangha,’ which means ‘assembly.’ The last name ‘Sanghvi’ probably means ‘someone who provides hospitality to Jain pilgrims.’
- Screwvala
It is believed to come from the words screw and ‘wala’, which means seller or maker. As a result, this last name likely indicates someone who made or sold screws.
- Shah
The Gujarati surname Shah comes from the Gujarati word ‘sahukaar,’ which means merchant, banker, or money-lender. This is why the last name Shah has its roots in a person’s occupation.
- Sheth
The origin of this surname comes from the Gujarati word ‘sheth’ or ‘seth,’ which means leader, boss, or head. This last name was given to individuals who held positions as supervisors or owners.
- Shroff
The Gujarati surname Shroff comes from the Gujarati word ‘seraf’, which refers to someone who works in finance such as a banker or money-lender. This last name is based on someone’s job.
- Thakkar
The Gujarati surname Thakkar probably comes from the term ‘Thakkura,’ which is a word in Middle Indo-Aryan or Sanskrit that refers to ‘God’ or ‘deity.’
- Tripathi
The Gujarati surname Tripathi comes from the Sanskrit word ‘tripa,’ which means ‘one who has studied the three Vedas.’
- Virani
The Gujarati surname Virani is a typical last name among people from Gujarat and Sindh, and it signifies being a descendant of someone named Vir. Vir comes from the word ‘Vira’ in Sanskrit, which translates to a brave and heroic person.
- Vyas
This Gujarati last name is derived from the Sanskrit term ‘vyasa,’ which means ‘compiler.’ This surname was typically used by people who worked as compilers of old texts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gujaratis are well-known for their success in business. Many popular Gujarati surnames or last names are linked to the occupations or businesses of their ancestors. For instance, Gandhi means one who sells fragrances. Other examples include Daruwala, Doshi, Zariwala, and Screwala. Some surnames like Aacharya, Desai, Gupta, Joshi, Mehta, and Pandya have Sanskrit origins. Last names like Patel and Sheth indicate leaders or chiefs, while Amin and Chowdhury are titles of respect.
