| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Word/name | Bengali Hindu |
| Region of origin | Bengal |
Maitra (Bengali: মৈত্র), alternatively spelled as Moitra or Maitreya is a Bengali Hindu surname found mostly among the Bengali Brahmins of Varendra clan.1
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.23 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
References
References
- Bhattacharya, Jogendra Nath (1896). Hindu Castes and Sects. Kolkata: Thacker, Spink And Co. p. 42. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
- Basu, Lokeśvara (1981). Āmādera padabīra itihāsa (in Bengali). Kalikātā: Ananda Publishers Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-81-7066-601-1.
- Singh, K. S. (1996). Communities, Segments, Synonyms, Surnames and Titles. Delhi: Oxford University Press, USA. ISBN 978-0-19-563357-3.
- Ray, Niharranjan (2013). History of the Bengali People: From Earliest Times to the Fall of the Sena Dynasty. ISBN 978-81-250-5053-7.
- Chopra, Pran Nath (1982). Religions and Communities of India. London: East-West Publ. ISBN 978-0-85692-081-3.
- Sarkar, Susobhan Chandra; Sarkar, Susobhan (1970). Bengal Renaissance and Other Essays. People's Publishing House. Retrieved 2025-11-04.