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Concept
Shah (surname)
Summary
Shah is a common surname in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Shah (ʃɑː; Šāh, pronounced ʃɒːh, "king") is a title given to the emperors, kings, princes and lords of Iran (historically known as Persia in the West).
In the Gujarat and Rajasthan region, the name 'Shah', 'Sha' or 'Sah' may be derived from Gujarati sah meaning "merchant" (from Sanskrit sadhu meaning "honest, good") and Prakrit Sahu, while the actual spelling "Shah" was popularized by the Persian word for King. As a result, especially in Western culture, use of the spelling "Shah" has become far more pronounced than the other variants. The word Sadhu/Sahu is also separately used to indicate a holy man, such as a Jain monk (see Namokar Mantra). The Indian surnames "Shah" and "Sahu" are variants of one another which have evolved from the word "sah" over time.
Another variant is Sheth.
One early use of the title Sadhu occurs in an inscription on an AD 850 Parshvanth image in the Akota Bronzes.
In numerous 12–13th century inscriptions the shravaka who installed the image is given the title "Sahu".
For example:
A 12th century Jain altarpiece in Los Angeles County Museum of Art mentions Grahapati Sadhu Kundha
Vibudh Shridhar mentions his patron Nattal Sahu, a 12th-century merchant prince in Delhi.
From Gwalior: Here both Sah and Sadhu have been used in the 1510 inscription.
From Ahar, Madhya Pradesh: " Samvat 1210 vaishakha sudi 13 grahpatyanvayae sahu shrisadhu bharya mana tayoh .. ete paNamanti nityam."
Here the word Sahu is equivalent to the Sanskrit word "sadhu". Some inscriptions use "sadhu" itself :
From Bahuriband (Katni, MP): "Svasti shri samvat 1070 phalgunavadi ...
madhavannandinugrahitah sadhu-shri sarvadharah .."
The word Sadhu here does not mean a monk but a "gentleman". Some inscriptions abbreviate sahu by just "sa" just like the abbreviation in English, "Mr."
In some business communities, genealogies are recited during marriages, where all ancestors would be respectfully called "sahu".
Official source
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