Shah is a popular surname in

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...

Bangladesh Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...

, and

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

Shah Shāh (; ) is a royal title meaning "king" in the Persian language.Yarshater, Ehsa, ''Iranian Studies'', vol. XXII, no. 1 (1989) Though chiefly associated with the monarchs of Iran, it was also used to refer to the leaders of numerous Per ...

(; , pronounced , 'king') is a title given to the emperors, kings, princes and lords of

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

(historically known as

Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

the West West is a cardinal direction or compass point. West or The West may also refer to: Geography and locations Global context * The Western world * Western culture and Western civilization in general * The Western Bloc, countries allied with NAT ...

).Yarshater, Ehsa
Persia or Iran, Persian or Farsi
, ''Iranian Studies'', vol. XXII no. 1 (1989)

History

In the

Gujarat Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...

and

Rajasthan Rajasthan (; Literal translation, lit. 'Land of Kings') is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the List of states and union territories of ...

region, the name 'Shah', 'Sha', or 'Sah' may be derived from Gujarati ''sah'' meaning "merchant" (from

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

''sadhu'' meaning "honest, good") and

Prakrit Prakrit ( ) is a group of vernacular classical Middle Indo-Aryan languages that were used in the Indian subcontinent from around the 5th century BCE to the 12th century CE. The term Prakrit is usually applied to the middle period of Middle Ind ...

''Sahu'', while the actual spelling "Shah" was popularized by the

Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...

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 ''Sadhu'' (, IAST: ' (male), ''sādhvī'' or ''sādhvīne'' (female), also spelled ''saddhu'') is a religious ascetic, mendicant or any holy person in Hinduism and Jainism who has renounced the worldly life. They are sometimes alternatively ...

/Sahu'' is also separately used to indicate a holy man, such as a Jain

monk A monk (; from , ''monachos'', "single, solitary" via Latin ) is a man who is a member of a religious order and lives in a monastery. A monk usually lives his life in prayer and contemplation. The concept is ancient and can be seen in many reli ...

(see

Namokar Mantra The Ṇamōkāra mantra is the most significant mantra in Jainism, and one of the oldest mantras in continuous practice. This is the first prayer recited by the Jains while meditating. The mantra is also variously referred to as the ''Pancha ...

). The Indian surnames "Shah" and "Sahu" are variants of one another which have evolved from the word "sah" over time. Another variant is

Sheth Sheth (also Seth) is an Indian surname, found in northern India and in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha and West Bengal. It derives from Sanskrit श्रेष्ठिन् (), meaning "banker/head of a guild". It may also be a variant of the Wes ...

. 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 The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is an art museum located on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile vicinity of Los Angeles. LACMA is on Museum Row, adjacent to the La Brea Tar Pits (George C. Page Museum). LACMA was founded in 1961 ...

mentions Grahapati Sadhu Kundha *

Vibudh Shridhar Vibudh Shridhar or Vibudha Shridhara ({{Flourished, 1189—1230) was an accomplished Apabhramsha writer and poet in North India. He is the first known Agrawal Jain author. His Pasanaha Chariu provides the first reference to the Jain community and ...

mentions his patron

Nattal Sahu Nattal Sahu of Yoginipur (now Mehrauli, Delhi) is the earliest known Agrawal Jain merchant-prince, who lived during the reign Tomara king, Anangapal. His biography is in the Apabhramsha text ''Pasanaha Cariu'' ( Parshvanath Caritra) of the p ...

, a 12th-century merchant prince in

Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its Bank (geography ...

. * From

Gwalior Gwalior (Hindi: , ) is a major city in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh; It is known as the Music City of India having oldest Gwalior gharana, musical gharana in existence. It is a major sports, cultural, industrial, and political c ...

: Here both Sah and Sadhu have been used in the 1510 inscription. * From Ahar,

Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh (; ; ) is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and the largest city is Indore, Indore. Other major cities includes Gwalior, Jabalpur, and Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, Sagar. Madhya Pradesh is the List of states and union te ...

: " 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". The term "sahukari" means the profession of banking/trading, and is derived from Sahu (Sanskrit "Sadhu") and kar (Sanskrit for doer). John Shakespear
A dictionary, Hindustani and English
1834, p.1035 In the

Bundelkhand Bundelkhand (, ) is a geographical and cultural region and a proposed state and also a mountain range in central and North India. It corresponds to the Post-Vedic Chedi kingdom. The hilly region is now divided between the states of Uttar Prad ...

Jain community, the father-in-law (or son's/daughter's father-in-law) used to be called "sahaji". Thus the words "Shah" etc. all indicate a respected member of the mercantile community. Today it is used by Gujarati business communities.

People with the surname

* Asif Shah, Nepalese TV presenter, director, producer, actor, singer, and rapper. * Shah Abdul Karim, Bangladeshi Baul * Amin Shah, Indian politician *

Amina Shah Amina Maxwell-Hudson (born Amina Shah; 31 October 1918 – 19 January 2014) was a British anthologiser of Sufi stories and folk tales, and was for many years the Chairperson of the College of Storytellers. She was the sister of the Sufi writer ...

(1918–2014), anthologiser of Sufi stories and folk tales * Amina Shah (librarian), Scottish librarian *

Amit Shah Amitbhai Anilchandra Shah (born 22 October 1964) is an Indian politician who is currently serving as the 32nd Ministry of Home Affairs (India), Minister of Home Affairs since May 2019 and the 1st Ministry of Co-operation, Minister of Co-operat ...

, Indian politician *

Amna Shah Amna Shah is a Canadian politician who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2024 British Columbia general election. She represents the electoral district of Surrey City Centre as a member of the British Columbia New ...

, Canadian politician * Arvind Victor Shah, (born 1940), Swiss engineer, educator and scientist * Ashiesh Shah, Indian architect and designer *

Bahadur Shah of Nepal Prince Bahadur Shah () was the youngest son of King Prithvi Narayan Shah of modern Nepal. He became the regent of Nepal for a brief period after the death of his predecessor Queen Rajendra Laxmi and accelerated his father's campaign for the conq ...

, Nepalese states unifier and Prince Regent *

Balen Shah Balendra Shah (; born 27 April 1990), also called as Balen Shah or Balen, is a Nepalese rapper, music composer, poet, structural engineer and politician. He is currently serving as the 15th mayor of Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. He i ...

, Nepalese rapper, structural engineer, and politician * Birendra Bir Bikram Shah, Nepalese monarch from the house of Shah dynasty *

Bulleh Shah Sayyid Abdullāh Shāh Qādrī (; ), popularly known as Baba Bulleh Shah and vocatively as Bulleya, was a Punjabi revolutionary philosopher, reformer and Chishti Sufi poet, regarded the 'Father of Punjabi Enlightenment'; and one of the g ...

(c.1680–c.1758), Punjabi Sufi poet * Daisy Shah, Indian Actress *

Eddy Shah Selim Jehan Shah (born 20 January 1944), commonly known as Eddy Shah or Eddie Shah, is a Manchester-based businessman, the founder of the then technologically advanced UK newspaper ''Today'' in 1986, and of the short-lived tabloid '' The Post''. ...

, British businessman and writer * Ema Shah (born 1981), Kuwaiti singer, composer, and director * Ethan Shah (born 2005), Local Ajax resident, basketball player, and philanthropist * Fahmida Shah (born 1966), British Asian silk painter * Farah Shah, Pakistani actress and host * Fatima Shah (1914-2002), Pakistani physician and disability activist * Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah, Nepali former King * Harmonica Shah (born 1946), American blues harmonicist and singer * Hetul Shah (born 1999), Indian chess player * Jawahar Shah (born 1955), Indian homeopath *

Jay Shah Jay Amitbhai Shah (born 22 September 1988) is an Indian cricket administrator and businessman, and the Chairman of the International Cricket Council ( ICC) since December 2024. He was the President of the Asian Cricket Council, establishing h ...

, Indian politician and BCCI official * Jen Shah (born 1973), American television personality * Jigar Shah (born 1974), Indian businessman *

Kiran Shah Kiran Jethalal Shah (born 28 September 1956) is a Kenyan actor and stunt double. Shah was born in Nairobi, Kenya to an Indian family. He lived in Kenya until he was twelve years old, when he moved to India with his family. While living in Ind ...

(born 1956), Kenyan-born actor and stuntman * Khushdil Shah, Pakistani cricketer * Komal Shah (disambiguation) ** Komal Shah (art collector), art collector, philanthropist, computer engineer, and businessperson in Silicon Valley * Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah, Nepalese nationalist monarch * Nagambal Shah, Indian-American mathematician and statistician * Naseem Shah, Pakistani cricketer *

Naseeruddin Shah Naseeruddin Shah (born 20 July 1950) is an Indian actor. He was notable in Indian parallel cinema and has starred in various international productions. He has won numerous awards in his career, including three National Film Awards, three Filmfa ...

, Indian actor *

Naz Shah Naseem Shah (; born 13 November 1973) is a British Labour Party politician who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Bradford West since 2015. She served in the Opposition frontbench from 2018 to 2023, most recently as Shadow Minister for Cr ...

(born (1973), British Labour Party politician * Neel Shah, American physician *

Neer Shah Neer Bikram Shah, also known as Nir Shah, is a Nepalese film actor, director, producer, poet, songwriter, and businessman. He is considered one of the leading actors in Nepali cinema history and an actor with multiple identities. He is related ...

, Nepalese actor, musician, and filmmaker * Nirav D. Shah, American epidemiologist, economist and attorney *

Owais Shah Owais Alam Shah (born 22 October 1978) is a former England cricketer. A middle-order batsman, he played for Middlesex from 1995 to 2010 and Essex from 2011 to 2013 before announcing his retirement from first-class cricket. He played Twenty20 ...

, English cricketer * Paul Shah, Nepalese model and actor. * Pooja Shah (born 1979), British Asian actress * Prithivi Narayan Shah, Nepalese monarch from the house of Shah dynasty * Rahil Shah, Indian cricketer * Raj Shah, American politician * Rajendra Keshavlal Shah (1913-2010), lyrical poet who wrote in Gujarati * Raline Shah (born 1985), Indonesian actress *

Rajiv Shah Rajiv J. "Raj" Shah (born March 9, 1973) is an American physician, economist and executive. He is the president of the Rockefeller Foundation and a former government official and health economist who served as the sixteenth administrator of the U ...

(born 1973), administrator of the United States Agency for International Development * Ratna Pathak Shah, Indian actress * Ravindu Shah (born 1972), Kenyan cricketer * Ray Shah (born 1978), contestant on the fourth series of the British Big Brother * Rishi Shah (born 1985/86), American billionaire, founder of Outcome Health * Roger Shah, German electronic music producer * Safia Shah, author * Saira Shah, English author, reporter and documentary filmmaker * Saleem Shah, Indian-American psychologist * Salman Shah (economist), Pakistani economist * Salman Shah (actor), Bangladeshi actor * Sanjay Shah, Dubai-based businessman *

Satish Shah Satish Ravilal Shah is an Indian actor. He is best known for his comic roles in films like '' Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro'' (1983), '' Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi'' (1984), '' Sarabhai vs Sarabhai'' (2004), '' Main Hoon Na'' (2004), ''Kal Ho Naa Ho'' (2003), '' ...

, Indian film and television actor * Syed Muhammad Asghar Shah (1949–2025), Pakistani politician * Tejal Shah (born 1979), Indian visual artist, curator *

Ushna Shah Ushna Shah (born 12 February 1990) is a Pakistani-Canadian film and television actress. Her accolades includes a Hum Award and a Pakistan Media Award, and a nomination for Lux Style Award. Shah graduated from the York University and made her ...

, Pakistani actress *

Yasir Shah Yasir Shah SI (; born 2 May 1986) is an international cricketer from Pakistan. He plays as a bowler, and is the joint-second fastest bowler in the history of Test cricket to take 100 wickets, as well as also being the fastest to pick up 200 wi ...

, Pakistani cricketer

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shah (surname) Surnames of Indian origin Gujarati-language surnames Bengali Muslim surnames Shah dynasty

History

People with the surname

See also

References