Mehta
A South Asian surname, often tied to learned, supervisory, or bookkeeping traditions in western India.
The #2,526 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 21,527 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Mehta is a South Asian surname most commonly associated with western India, especially Gujarati and Rajasthani-speaking communities. It is often explained as coming from an old title or honorific used for a chief, accountant, steward, or revenue officer, and may ultimately be linked to Sanskrit roots meaning a notable or prominent person. In some families it functions more like a hereditary community name than a literal job label.
History
The surname is especially common among Indian communities that migrated widely in the 20th century, so it is now found in Britain, North America, East Africa, and elsewhere. In historical usage, Mehta could denote someone with administrative or accounting responsibilities, though in many families the meaning has become purely hereditary. The spelling is stable in English, reflecting transliteration rather than a broad set of variant forms.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Mehta is also encountered as a respected title in some Indian historical contexts, not just as a family surname.
Notable people named Mehta
- Zubin Mehta (b. 1936)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.