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Shah (surname)

{{Disputed|date=November 2018}}

Shah is a popular surname in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.Kumar, R. (2006). Costumes and textiles of royal India. {{ISBN|1851495096}}

Shah ({{IPAc-en|ʃ|ɑː}}; {{langx|fa|شاه|Šāh}}, pronounced {{IPA|fa|ʃɒːh|}}, 'king') is a title given to the emperors, kings, princes and lords of Iran (historically known as Persia in the West).Yarshater, Ehsan [http://www.iran-heritage.org/interestgroups/language-article5.htm Persia or Iran, Persian or Farsi] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024033230/http://www.iran-heritage.org/interestgroups/language-article5.htm |date=2010-10-24 }}, Iranian Studies, vol. XXII no. 1 (1989) It is different to the Shah that is found in Gujarat, India, which is rather derived from Sanskrit.

History

In the Gujarat and Rajasthan region, the name 'Shah', 'Sha', or 'Sah' may be derived from Gujarati sah meaning "merchant"{{cite book |editor1-last=Parkin |editor1-first=Harry |title=Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780191939877 |edition=2021}} (from Sanskrit sadhu meaning "honest, good") and Prakrit Sahu{{fact|date=July 2022}}, while the actual spelling "Shah" was popularized by the Persian word for King. As a result, especially in Western culture, use of the spelling "Shah" has become far more pronounced than the other variants.{{cite web | title =Shah Name Meaning and History | publisher =Ancestry.com | url =http://www.ancestry.com/facts/shah-name-meaning.ashx | accessdate =2010-12-28 }} The word Sadhu/Sahu is also separately used to indicate a holy man, such as a Jain monk (see Namokar Mantra). The Indian surnames "Shah" and "Sahu" are variants of one another which have evolved from the word "sah" over time{{fact|date=July 2022}}.

Another variant is Sheth.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

One early use of the title Sadhu occurs in an inscription on an AD 850 Parshvanth image in the Akota Bronzes.Akota Bronzes, Umakant P.Shah, 1959, p. 52-53

In numerous 12–13th century inscriptions the shravaka who installed the image is given the title "Sahu".Kasturchand Jain Suman, Bharatiya Digambar Jain Abhilekh aur Tirth Parichay, Madhya-Pradesh: 13 vi shati tak, Delhi, 2001

{{quote box|align=right|width=22em

|quote = सं १५१० वर्षे माघ सुदी ८ सोमे गोपाचल दुर्गे तोमर वंशान्वये राजा श्री डूंगरेन्द्र देव राज्य पवित्रमाने श्री काष्ठासंघ माथुरान्वये भट्टारक श्री गुणकीर्ति देवास्तत्पट्टे श्री मलयकीर्ति देवास्ततो भट्टारक गुणभद्रदेव पंडितवर्य रइघू तदाम्नाये अग्रोतवंशे वासिलगोत्रे सकेलहा भार्या निवारी तयोः पुत्र विजयष्ट शाह ... साधु श्री माल्हा पुत्र संघातिपति देउताय पुत्र संघातिपति करमसीह श्री चन्द्रप्रभु जिनबिंब महाकाय प्रतिष्ठापित प्रणमति ..शुभम् भवतु ..

|source = A Gwalior Fort Inscription 1453[http://www.webdunia.com/dharm/jain/gopachal/19_gopachal9.htm Gopachal ke Jinamandir] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015035748/http://www.webdunia.com/dharm/jain/gopachal/19_gopachal9.htm |date=October 15, 2007 }}

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For example:

  • A 12th century Jain altarpiece in Los Angeles County Museum of Art mentions Grahapati Sadhu KundhaIndian Sculpture: 700-1800, Volume 2 of Indian Sculpture: A Catalogue of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art Collection, Pratapaditya Pal, University of California Press, 1988, p. 306
  • Vibudh Shridhar mentions his patron Nattal Sahu, a 12th-century merchant prince in Delhi.
  • From Gwalior: Here both Sah and Sadhu have been used in the 1510 inscription.
  • From Ahar, Madhya Pradesh: " Samvat 1210 vaishakha sudi 13 grahpatyanvayae sahu shrisadhu bharya mana tayoh .. ete paNamanti nityam."

Here the word Sahu is equivalent to the Sanskrit word "sadhu". Some inscriptions use "sadhu" itself :

  • From Bahuriband (Katni, MP): "Svasti shri samvat 1070 phalgunavadi ...

madhavannandinugrahitah sadhu-shri sarvadharah .."{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

The word Sadhu here does not mean a monk but a "gentleman". Some inscriptions abbreviate sahu by just "sa" just like the abbreviation in English, "Mr."{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

In some business communities, genealogies are recited during marriages, where all ancestors would be respectfully called "sahu".

The term "sahukari" means the profession of banking/trading, and is derived from Sahu (Sanskrit "Sadhu") and kar (Sanskrit for doer).John Shakespear. [http://dsalsrv02.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/search3advanced?dbname=shakespear&query=sahukar&matchtype=exact&display=utf8 A dictionary, Hindustani and English], 1834, p.1035

In the Bundelkhand Jain community, the father-in-law (or son's/daughter's father-in-law) used to be called "sahaji". Thus the words "Shah" etc. all indicate a respected member of the mercantile community.

Today it is used by Gujarati business communities.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

People with the surname

See also

References

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Category:Surnames of Indian origin

Category:Gujarati-language surnames

Category:Bengali Muslim surnames

Category: Shah dynasty