Dutta, also spelled Dutt or Datta, is a

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

family name In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

found primarily among Bengali Kayasthas,Assamese Kayasthas and also among Suvarna Baniks, Gandhabaniks in

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

.The Illustrated Weekly of India, Volume 97
/ref> The name is also found among certain

North India North India is a loosely defined region consisting of the northern part of India. The dominant geographical features of North India are the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayas, which demarcate the region from the Tibetan Plateau and Central ...

Brahmin Brahmin (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests (purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers (guru ...

communities garol means "given" or "granted" in

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

and is also an alternative name for the Hindu deity

Dattatreya Dattatreya ( sa, दत्तात्रेय, ), Dattā or Dattaguru, is a paradigmatic Sannyasi (monk) and one of the lords of yoga, venerated as a Hindu god. In Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Madhya ...

Bengal

According to Indian historian Tej Ram Sharma, in Bengal the surname Dutta/Datta (দত্ত) is used by Kayastha caste. The office of Kayastha (scribe) was instituted before the

Gupta period The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire which existed from the early 4th century CE to late 6th century CE. At its zenith, from approximately 319 to 467 CE, it covered much of the Indian subcontinent. This period is considered as the Gol ...

(c.320 to 550 CE). Originally, Kayastha was composed of people from different ''Varnas'', including

s and

Kshatriya Kshatriya ( hi, क्षत्रिय) (from Sanskrit ''kṣatra'', "rule, authority") is one of the four varna (social orders) of Hindu society, associated with warrior aristocracy. The Sanskrit term ''kṣatriyaḥ'' is used in the con ...

s. After the Gupta reign, the Kayasthas in Bengal developed into a caste, and gained a higher status, incorporating the

Pala Pala may refer to: Places Chad *Pala, Chad, the capital of the region of Mayo-Kebbi Ouest Estonia * Pala, Kose Parish, village in Kose Parish, Harju County * Pala, Kuusalu Parish, village in Kuusalu Parish, Harju County *Pala, Järva County, vi ...

, Sena and Varman Kings and their descendants. In the middle period of the history of Bengal, between 1500 and 1850 CE, the Kayasthas were regarded as one of the highest of Hindu castes in the region.

Punjab

Punjabi Dutt's belong to the

Mohyal Brahmin Mohyal Brahmins (or Potohari Brahmins) are an Indian sub-caste of Saraswat Brahmins from the Punjab region, who are sometimes referred to as 'Warrior Brahmins'. Mohyal Brahmins were the ancient and one of the first Hindu rulers of Punjab and Afg ...

community. According to the

gotra In Hindu culture, the term gotra (Sanskrit: गोत्र) is considered to be equivalent to lineage. It broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor or patriline. Generally, the gotra fo ...

system, Mohyal Dutt's are the descendants of

Rishi ''Rishi'' () is a term for an accomplished and enlightened person. They find mentions in various Vedic texts. Rishis are believed to have composed hymns of the Vedas. The Post-Vedic tradition of Hinduism regards the rishis as "great yogis" or ...

Bharadwaj Bharadwaj ( hi, भारद्वाज) is a surname mostly used by Brahmins. Notable people with the surname include: *Abhay Bharadwaj (1954–2020), Indian advocate turned politician *Anasuya Bharadwaj (born 1982), Indian television presenter a ...

. Some consider Gaj Bhavan, the grandson of Rishi Bharadwaj to be the real founder of their clan.Defence Journal, Pakistan- June 200
Tribes and Turbulence
by Hamid Hussain

Other Regions

"Dutt" is also used as a titular surname or middle name in other North Indian states particularly by

Brahmins Brahmin (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests (purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers (guru o ...

. For instance, Indian wrestler

Yogeshwar Dutt Yogeshwar Dutt (born 2 November 1982) is an Indian freestyle wrestler. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, he won the bronze medal in the 60 kg category. He was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2013. He won gold medals at th ...

is a

from

Haryana Haryana (; ) is an Indian state located in the northern part of the country. It was carved out of the former state of East Punjab on 1 Nov 1966 on a linguistic basis. It is ranked 21st in terms of area, with less than 1.4% () of India's land ar ...

and former politician,

Narayan Dutt Tiwari Narayan Datt Tiwari (18 October 1925 – 18 October 2018) was an Indian politician who served as the 9th Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and 3rd Chief Minister of Uttarakhand from 2002 to 2007. He was first Indian Chief Minister who served for ...

was a Kumaoni

from

Uttarakhand Uttarakhand ( , or ; , ), also known as Uttaranchal ( ; the official name until 2007), is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the "Devbhumi" (literally 'Land of the Gods') due to its religious significance and ...

Notable people

Aishwarya Dutta Aishwarya Dutta is an Indian actress who has predominantly appeared in Tamil language films. After initially appearing in music videos and minor acting roles, she made a breakthrough as an actress with her role in the Tamil movie ''Tamizhuku E ...

(Born 1995) Tamil Actress *

Akshay Kumar Datta Akshay Kumar Datta (also spelt Akshay Kumar Dutta) ( bn, অক্ষয় কুমার দত্ত) (15 July 1820 – 18 May 1886) was a Bengali writer from India. He was one of the initiators of the Bengal Renaissance. Early life He wa ...

(1820–1886); writer * Anandita Dutta Tamuly, record holder in Limca Book of Records * Aloke Dutta; tabla player *

Amal Dutta Amal Dutta (4 May 1930 – 10 July 2016) was a former Indian footballer, coach and football manager. Born in Calcutta, then Bengal Presidency, he is considered as the first professional football coach in the country. A finest thinker of the sp ...

; Indian footballer (retired) and football coach. *

Anik Dutta Anik DuttaSpelling according to The Times of India' is a Bengali film director who made his directorial debut in 2012 Bengali film Bhooter Bhabishyat. In 2012 he started working on a film on Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay's novel ''Aschorjo Prodip''. An ...

; Bengali film director *

Anjan Dutt Anjan Dutt (Bengali: অঞ্জন দত্ত) is an Indian film director, actor, and singer-songwriter known for his work in the Bengali alternative music genre ''anyodharar gaan''. As an actor, Dutt began his career in Bengali cinema i ...

; Bengali singer, film director and actor *

Aroti Dutt Aroti Dutt (1924–2003) was a social worker from India. She was the world president of the Associated Countrywomen of the World for two terms, from 1965 to 1971, and subsequently their Member of Honour. She was also the international vice-pr ...

; noted social worker *

Arpita Singh Arpita Singh (''née'' Dutta; born 22 June 1937) is an Indian artist. Known to be a figurative artist and a modernist, her canvases have both a story line and a carnival of images arranged in a curiously subversive manner. Her artistic approach ...

; born Arpita Dutta, Padma Bhushan awarded Painter * Aswini Kumar Dutta (1856–1923); nationalist leader and philanthropist *

Bhabatosh Datta Bhabatosh Datta (21 February 1911 – 11 January 1997) was a noted Indian economist, academic and writer. He taught at Chittagong College and later became Professor of Economics, Presidency College, Kolkata, where he later Emeritus Professor. ...

(1911–1997), Indian economist and academic, Padma Vibhushan (1990) *

Bhaktivinoda Thakur Bhaktivinoda Thakur (, ) (2 September 1838 – 23 June 1914), born Kedarnath Datta (, ), was a Hindu philosopher, guru and spiritual reformer of Gaudiya Vaishnavism who effected its resurgence in India in late 19th and early 20th century and ...

(Kedarnath Datta) (1838–1914); Magistrate and Vaishnava religious reformer *

Birendra Nath Datta Birendra Nath Datta (born 1 March 1935) is an Indian academician, a linguist, a researcher of folklore, a singer and lyricists of Assam. In his career, he mainly worked as a professor in different colleges of Assam. He also wrote scholarly books. ...

, writer and a Padma Shri award recipient *

Bhupendranath Datta Bhupendranath Datta (4 September 1880 – 25 December 1961) was an Indian revolutionary and later a noted sociologist and anthropologist. He associated Rishi Aurobindo in his political works. In his youth, he was closely associated with the ...

, Indian revolutionary and later a sociologist. *

Chitra Singh Chitra Singh () is an Indian ghazal singer. She, alongside her husband, Jagjit Singh, popularized the ghazal genre. Respectfully known as the "king and queen of the Ghazal world," the husband and wife duo created some of the most successful Indi ...

; born Chitra

Shome Shome is a Bengali Hindu surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Chitra Singh (born 1945), born Shome, Indian ghazal singer, also known as Chitra Dutta * Gautam Shome Sr. (born 1960), Indian cricketer * Gautam Shome Jr. (born 1963), Ind ...

, singer and wife of Jagjit Singh. *

Dhirendranath Datta Dhirendranath Datta (2 November 1886 – disappeared 29 March 1971) was a Bengali lawyer by profession who was also active in the politics of undivided Bengal in pre-partition India, and later in East Pakistan (1947–1971). Early life Datta ...

(1886–1971); Bengali lawyer and politician *

Divya Dutta Divya Dutta (born 25 September 1977) is an Indian actress and model. She has appeared in Hindi and Punjabi cinema, in addition to Malayalam and English-language films. She has received many awards including a National Film Award, a Filmfare Aw ...

(born 1977); Hindi and Punjabi film actress. *

Durjoy Datta Durjoy Datta is an Indian author and screenwriter. Early and personal life Durjoy Datta was born on 7 February 1987 in Mehsana, Gujarat, in a Bengali Hindu family, and was brought up in New Delhi. He completed his schooling at the Bal Bharati ...

; writer *

Gurusaday Dutt Gurusaday Dutt (1882–1941) was a civil servant, folklorist, and writer. He was the founder of the ''Bratachari'' Movement in the 1930s. Early life and education Gurusaday was the son of the Ramkrishna Dutta Chaudhuri and Anandamayee Debi. ...

founder- Bratachari Movement, *

Himangshu Dutta Himangshu Dutta ( bn, হিমাংশু দত্ত; 1908 – 15 November 1944) was a Bengali music director. Amongst several contemporary legendary composers of his time as Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, and Atulprasad Sen, Dutta ...

(1908–1944); music composer *

Indrani Dutta Indrani Dutta ( bn, ইন্দ্রানী দত্ত) is an Indian actress and dancer who is known for her work in Bengali cinema. Recipient of a BFJA Award, Dutta shot to fame in 1990s. Early life Dutta was born in Kolkata. She is the ...

, Bengali television actress *

Jyotirmoy Datta Jyotirmoy Datta ( bn, জ্যোতির্ময় দত্ত, jotirmôe dôtto; born 1936) is a Bengali writer, journalist, poet, and an essayist. He worked for ''The Statesman'', Calcutta's oldest English-language daily, as feature writ ...

; writer, journalist, poet and essayist *

J. P. Dutta Jyoti Prakash Dutta (born 3 October 1949) is an Indian Bollywood film producer, writer and director, best known for making patriotic action war films. Personal life Dutta is married to the Bollywood film actress Bindiya Goswami with whom he has ...

(born 1949), Indian film producer, writer and director * Jyoti Prakash Dutta (writer), Bangladeshi short-story writer * Kalpana Joshi; born Kalpana Dutt, noted freedom fighter *

Kanailal Dutta Kanailal Dutta ( bn, কানাইলাল দত্ত) (30 August 1888 – 10 November 1908) was a revolutionary in India's freedom struggle belonging to the Jugantar group. He was born in Chandannagar, West Bengal. He, along with Satyend ...

; freedom fighter *

Lara Dutta Lara Dutta (born 16 April 1978) is an Indian actress, entrepreneur and the winner of the Miss Universe 2000 pageant. She was previously crowned as Miss Intercontinental 1997. In her career, she has primarily worked in Hindi films. She is the r ...

; Bollywood Actress * Mankumari Basu; born Mankumari Dutt, poet and short story writer *

Monikangana Dutta Monikangana Dutta is an Indian model (person), model and actress based in Mumbai. She is from Guwahati, Assam. She studied in Army Public School, Narangi, Guwahati and later graduated from the Matreyi College, University of Delhi. Acting She ...

, model and actress from Assam *

Munmun Dutta Munmun Dutta (born 28 September 1987) is an Indian television actress and model. She is best known for her portrayal of Babita Krishnan Iyer in the popular Hindi sitcom ''Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah''. Early life and education Dutta wa ...

, Actress *

Michael Madhusudan Dutt Michael Madhusudan Dutt ((Bengali: মাইকেল মধুসূদন দত্ত); (25 January 1824 – 29 June 1873) was a Bengali poet and playwright. He is considered one of the pioneers of Bengali literature. Early life Dutt ...

(1824–1873); poet and dramatist *

Nargis Nargis Dutt (born Fatima Rashid; 1 June 1929 – 3 May 1981) was an Indian actress and politician who worked in Hindi cinema. Regarded as one of the greatest actresses in the history of Indian cinema, she made her screen debut in a minor role ...

(1 June 1929 – 3 May 1981); Actress *

Phulrenu Guha Dr Phulrenu Guha (née Dutta, Bengali:ফুলরেণু গুহ; born 13 August 1911) was an Indian activist, educationist and politician, belonging to the Indian National Congress. She was a member of the Rajya Sabha the Upper house of ...

; born Phulrenu Dutta, politician and social activist. * Radha Raman Dutta; music composer *

Rajani Palme Dutt Rajani may refer to: *Rajani (name), people named Rajani *Rajani (actress) (born 1965), Indian film actress * ''Rajani'' (TV series), a 1980s Indian TV series * ''Rajani'' (film), a 2009 Indian Kannada romantic comedy * ''Rajani'', an 1877 novel b ...

, British politician * Roby Datta, poet and educator *

Rasamay Dutt Rasamay Dutt or Russomoy Dutt (1779 – May 14, 1854) was a notable Bengali educationist of British India during the Bengali Renaissance. He was the co founder of Hindu School, Kolkata. Bengali poet Toru Dutt was his grand daughter. Early life ...

, Bengali educationist, first Indian puisne judge of India, first Indian member of the Asiatic Society. *

Romesh Chunder Dutt Romesh Chunder Dutt ( bn, রমেশচন্দ্র দত্ত; 13 August 1848 – 30 November 1909) was an Indian civil servant, economic historian, writer and translator of ''Ramayana'' and ''Mahabharata''. Dutt is considered a nation ...

(1848–1909); writer, economist, historian, translator of Vedas *

Samadarshi Dutta Samadarshi Dutta is a Bengali film actor. Career Dutta is a Film and Television Institute of India graduate. In 2011 he debuted in acting with Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy Nandita Roy (born April 3, 1955) is an Indian filmmaker a ...

; Bengali film actor *

Sanjay Dutt Sanjay Balraj Dutt (born 29 July 1959) is an Indian actor who primarily works in Hindi cinema. In a career spanning over four decades, Dutt has won several accolades and acted in over 100 films, ranging from romance to comedy genres, though u ...

; actor *

Saroj Nalini Dutt Saroj Nalini Dutt (''née'' De) MBE (9 October 1887 – 19 January 1925) was an Indian feminist and social reformer. Background She was born in her father, Brajendranath De’s, country house in Bandel, near Hooghly, in Bengal Province. Sh ...

(née De); noted social worker *

Satyendranath Dutta Satyendranath Dutta (also spelt Satyendranath Datta or Satyendra Nath Dutta; bn, সত্যেন্দ্রনাথ দত্ত) (1882 – 25 June 1922), a Bengali poet, is considered the "wizard of rhymes" (or 'ছন্দের জা ...

: (1882–1922) Bengali poet. * Shanta Dutta; Indian microbiologist *

Sunil Dutt Sunil Dutt (born Balraj Dutt; 6 June 1929 — 25 May 2005) was an Indian actor, film producer, director and politician. Dutt was one of the major stars of Hindi cinema in the late 1950s and 1960s and continued to star in many successful film ...

(1929–2005); actor, politician *

Sudhindranath Dutta Sudhindranath Dutta (30 October 1901 – 25 June 1960) was an Indian poet, essayist, journalist and critic. Sudhindranath is one of the most notable poets after the Tagore-era in Bengali literature. Education Sudhindranath Dutt went to the Theo ...

, Bengali poet, essayist *

Supriyo Datta Supriyo Datta (born 1954) is an Indian born American researcher and author. A leading figure in the modeling and understanding of nano-scale electronic conduction, he has been called "one of the most original thinkers in the field of nanoscale ...

, nanotechnology researcher *

Swami Gambhirananda Swami Gambhirananda (1899–1988), born as Jatindranath Datta, was a Hindu sanyasi associated with Ramakrishna Mission. He was born at Sadhuhati in today's Bangladesh. He graduated from Scottish Church College, Calcutta (Kolkata). Jatindr ...

born Jatindranath Datta, Hindu religious teacher. *

Tanushree Dutta Tanushree Dutta (pronounced ) is an Indian actress and model. Dutta won the Femina Miss India Universe title in 2004 at age 20. In the same year at the Miss Universe beauty pageant held in Ecuador, she represented India amongst 133 other count ...

; Indian actress *

Tina Dutta Tina Datta (born 27 November 1991) is an Indian actress known for her work in Hindi television. She rose to fame after portraying Ichcha in the drama series ''Uttaran'' for which she won the Producers Guild Award for Best Actress. She went on t ...

; (actress) *

Toru Dutt Toru Dutt ( bn, তরু দত্ত; 4 March 1856 – 30 August 1877) was an Indian Bengali translator and poet from British India, who wrote in English and French. She is among the founding figures of Indo-Anglian literature, alongside Henry ...

(1856–1877); poet *

Utpal Dutt Utpal Dutta () (29 March 1929 – 19 August 1993) was an Indian actor, director, and writer-playwright. He was primarily an actor in Bengali theatre, where he became a pioneering figure in Modern Indian theatre, when he founded the "Little The ...

(1929–1993); author, dramatist, director, actor and activist *

Swami Vivekananda Swami Vivekananda (; ; 12 January 1863 – 4 July 1902), born Narendranath Datta (), was an Indian Hindu monk, philosopher, author, religious teacher, and the chief disciple of the Indian mystic Ramakrishna. He was a key figure in the intro ...

(1863–1902); born Narendranath Datta, spiritual leader of modern India *

; Wrestler

In popular culture

In 2012, a Bengali film ''

Dutta vs Dutta ''Dutta Vs Dutta'' is a 2012 Indian Bengali film directed by Anjan Dutt. This is Anjan Dutt's semi-autobiographical film. Most of the film has been shot in a house of Amherst Street in Kolkata. Anjan has described this house resonated feel of hi ...

'' was released, directed by

, the film captured family drama of three generations of a Bengali Dutta family.

References

Sources

* * * * * * * {{surname, Dutta Indian surnames Bengali Hindu surnames Bengali-language surnames Assamese-language surnames