Maitra
Surname list
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maitra (Bengali: মৈত্র), alternatively spelled as Moitra or Maitreya is a Bengali Hindu surname found mostly among the Bengali Brahmins of Varendra clan.[1]
| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Word/name | Bengali Hindu |
| Region of origin | Bengal |
History
The Maitra surname has deep roots in ancient Bengal. It is one of the Baidya surnames, the others being Sengupta, Dasgupta, Duttagupta, and Kar etc.[2][3] The Baidyas, who were traditionally physicians and Ayurvedic scholars, occupied a high social and intellectual status in Bengal’s caste hierarchy.[4]
Historical records from the medieval period mention Maitras as landowners, physicians,[5] and administrators in various parts of Bengal. During the Bengal Renaissance (19th century), several Maitra families became influential in education, literature, and social reform.[6]
Notables
- Sisir Kumar Maitra (1887–1963), Indian philosopher
- Radhika Mohan Maitra (1917–1981), Indian sarod player
- Shantanu Moitra (born 1968), Indian music director
- Krishnananda Agamavagisha, Moitra at birth, Bengali scholar
- Mahua Moitra (born 1974), Indian politician and member of parliament
- Sunil Maitra (1 February 1927 – 18 September 1996), Indian politician and member of parliament
See also
- Maitrī, a Buddhist philosophy
