Surname Ghosh - Meaning and Origin

Ghosh: What does the surname Ghosh mean?

The last name Ghosh is an Indian surname of Bengal origin, generally associated with the Bengali Brahmin caste. It is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Ghosha’ which means ‘protector’ or ‘shield’. It is considered to be one of the oldest surnames among the Bengali community, with records showing its use in the 14th century.

Today, people with the last name Ghosh are mostly found in sub-Himalayan regions of India, with West Bengal and Bangladesh being the most populated regions. It is an extremely popular surname, symbolizing knowledge, wisdom and respect.

The surname is mostly found among those who practice Hinduism, although there are a significant number of Muslim Ghoshs as well. It is also seen among followers of other Indian religions like Buddhism and Jainism.

The Ghoshs are renowned for their intellect, education and spiritual practice. Many distinguished people in literature, science and politics have the surname Ghosh.

The last name Ghosh carries a sense of pride and respect in the Indian sub-continent and is a testament to the centuries of culture, intellect and politics it represents for people with the surname.

Ghosh: Where does the name Ghosh come from?

The last name Ghosh is a surname that is common in the subcontinent of South Asia, especially in India and Bangladesh. The Ghosh surname is derived from the word “Ghosha,” which means “teacher.” Originally, the Ghosh family was one of the Brahmin caste in India, meaning they were the educated elite and typically served as advisors to kings or held prestigious positions in the priesthood.

Today, members of the Ghosh family can be found spread across the South Asian subcontinent in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and even Sri Lanka. The highest concentration of people with this last name is located in India, in states such as West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Odisha, Jharkhand and parts of Uttar Pradesh. The larger cities of India are also home to members of the Ghosh family, such as Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Mumbai.

In addition, there are pockets of Ghosh families across the world. In the United States, the name Ghosh is found in states like New York, California and New Jersey, with some other concentrations recorded in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Overall, the Ghosh surname is prevalent throughout the South Asian diaspora in countries all around the world. It remains a recognisable and prestigious name that is indicative of a centuries-old tradition. Those who carry the surname Ghosh today can see it as a reminder of their cultural heritage and deep roots.

Variations of the surname Ghosh

The surname Ghosh has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variations of Ghosh include Ghose, Goas, Gohs, Gosh, Ghos, Goosh and Ghoosh. Additionally, less common variations include Ghosh, Ghor, Goswami and Gavis.

The Bengali Hindu variant of Ghosh is Ghose or Ghoosh. This particular spelling is common amongst those of Bengali heritage. In Gujarati, Ghose is commonly spelt Gohs. It is believed that Vedic Brahmins carried this surname from India to Bangladesh in the 4th century.

In other countries, the surname Ghose is spelt Gosh. This spelling is common in areas that have had strong influences of the Polish or British Empire, such as Germany, France and Eastern Europe.

The spelling Ghosh is a rare variant found in some areas of India and a few countries in South America. It is thought to have been used by some of the earliest inhabitants of the North American continent. A variation of Ghosh is Gavish, which is an ancient Indian name that was likely used in the medieval times.

The surname Goswami is another spelling of Ghosh and is found among many people of Hindu heritage across the globe. This is because of Brahmin or priestly families using this name as their surname. Goswami can also be found in areas with a strong influence of the British and boasting a population of Hindus from South Asia.

Overall, the common and lesser-known variants of Ghosh (Ghose, Goas, Gohs, Gosh, Ghos, Goosh, Ghoosh, Ghor, Goswami, Gavis), all point to an origin from South Asia.

Famous people with the name Ghosh

• Anirban Ghosh: An international media and communications specialist and former BBC Radio presenter.
• Abhijit Ghosh: An acclaimed Indian professional table tennis player.
• Amita Ghosh: A playback singer, long-time associate of the legendary music director OP Nayyar.
• Debdut Ghosh: A veteran Indian actor of the Bengali film industry.
• Gavin Ghosh: A painter, sculptor, and printmaker based in Kolkata.
• Joy Ghosh: A poet and musician from Assam who is known for his work in Bengali literature.
• Joydeep Ghosh: A professor at the University of Texas at Austin specialising in machine learning and its applications.
• Kausik Ghosh: A surgical oncologist and the former Chief of Surgery at the Central Hospital.
• Krishna Chandra Ghosh: A noted Indian proponent of the Atiśa school of Buddhism.
• Madhuchandra Ghosh: A famous formulator of the Buddhist philosophy known as the Madhuchandra System of Thought.
• Nabarun Ghosh: An Indian novelist, poet, and columnist, renowned for his notable works like Chitrokalpa O Fwhite and other stories.
• Prasun Ghosh: An Indian cricketer who is a former member of the India under-19s cricket team.
• Ritwik Ghosh: A computer scientist and a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
• Swapan Kumar Ghosh: A noted Indian painter and printmaker, known for introducing cubist elements into his works.
• Sankar Ghosh: A prominent Indian musician and tabla maestro.

Other surnames

GaalGaalayGaalenGaaleyGaalyGaarmannGabbardGabberGabbertGabeGabehartGabelGäbelGabelbergerGabeleGäbeleGäbeleinGabelenzGabelerGäbelerGabellGabelmannGabelsbergerGabeltGäbeltGabeneschGabenischGabenneschGaberle