Ghosh
A common Bengali surname originally tied to a clan or occupational name connected with herding, cattle, or the recitation tradition.
The #8,928 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 84,219 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Ghosh is a Bengali surname ultimately tied to the Sanskrit root ghoṣa, meaning a cry, sound, or proclamation. In older Indo-Aryan usage, the word also developed senses connected with pastoral life and cattle camps, which is why the surname is often explained as having an occupational or community-based origin. In Bengal, it became established as a hereditary surname and caste name rather than a literal job title in every case.
History
The surname is especially common among Bengalis in India and Bangladesh, and it spread more widely through migration in the modern period. In South Asian naming practice, Ghosh has long functioned as both a family surname and a marker of community identity. It is now well represented in diaspora communities in the UK, North America, and elsewhere.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Ghosh is one of the better-known Bengali surnames and is borne by people across several professions today, not just any original occupational group.
Notable people named Ghosh
- Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950)
- Paramahansa Yogananda (1893–1952)
- Amitav Ghosh (b. 1956)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.