Chowdhury, Choudhuri, Chaudhuri, Choudhury, Chaudhri, Chaudhury, Chaudhry, or Chaudhary, is a title of honour, usually hereditary, originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is an adaption from Sanskrit. During the Mughal rule, it was a title awarded to eminent people, while during British rule, the term was associated with zamindars and social leaders. The common female equivalent was Chowdhurani.
Meaning "Chowdhury" is a term adapted from the Sanskrit words čatus "four-way, all-round" and dhurīya "undertaking a burden", denoting the head of a community or caste.
Significance It was a title awarded to persons of eminence, including both Muslims and Hindus, during the Mughal Empire. It was also used as a title by military commanders responsible for four separate forces, including the cavalry, navy, infantry and elephant corps. These people belonged to the zamindar families in British India.
Later, the Mughals and the Nawabs conferred the same title in great numbers. Chaudharies were local magnates responsible for land taxes alongside an amil (revenue collector) and a karkun (accountant) in the local-level administrative units known as parganas .
In modern times, the term is a common South Asian surname for both males and females.
In Odisha, "Choudhury" is used as a title by Karanas.
Regional
In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the titular Rajas of the Bohmong Circle and Mong Circle have the surname Chowdhury.
The Bengali Muslim Mirashdars living in the former Kachari Kingdom were given titles by the Kachari Raja, which in modern-day acts as a surname for them.
In Bihar, the Pasi are also known as the Chaudhary, a community traditionally connected with toddy tapping.People of India Bihar Volume XVI Part Two edited by S Gopal & Hetukar Jha pages 759 to 765 Seagull Books
In Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Chaudhary surname is widely used by Jat community while some other communities using it are Rajputs, Gurjars, Ahirs, Dalits, etc. This surname is popular in North India and it conveys honour and strength. It is typically used as a prefix before the given name, often represented by the prefix 'Ch' such as Ch. Charan Singh, 5th prime minister of India and Ch. Devi Lal, 6th deputy prime minister of India.
Deshastha Brahmins and Kammas from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana who got this as a title during Qutb Shahis of Golconda and Nizams of Hyderabad also use Chowdhari or Chowdhury as their surnames.
Alternate spellings Its alternate spellings include Choudry, Chaudhary, Chaudri, Chaudhri, Choudhary, Chaudhry, Chowdary, Chowdhary, Chaudry, Choudary, Choudhry, Chaudhuri, Chaudhari, Chudhry, Choudhari, Choudhury, Chowdhuri, Chowdury and Chawdhury. The female equivalent is Chaudhurani and alternate spellings include Choudhurani, Chowdhurani, Chowdhrani, Choudhrani and Chaudhrani.
Chowdhury by country Bangladesh
Justice A. F. M. Ahsanuddin Chowdhury, 9th President of Bangladesh A. H. Abdul Gafur Chowdhury, politician A. K. M. Rafiq Ullah Choudhury (1923–2011), former chairman of Sandwip Upazila A. N. Muhammad Momtaz Uddin Choudhury (1923–2005), first vice-chancellor of Islamic University, Bangladesh A. T. Muhammad Nurul Bashar Chowdhury, former chairman of Kutubdia Upazila Council Abeda Chowdhury (born 1942), politician Abdul Hakeem Chowdhury (1924–1986), president of Sunamganj Awami League Abdul Halim Chowdhury (1928–1987), former minister of Agriculture and Food Abdul Hye Choudhury, politician Abdul Kahir Chowdhury, former parliamentarian Abdul Mannan Choudhury (born 1948), vice-chancellor of World University of Bangladesh Abdul Mannan Chowdhury, politician Abdul Matin Chaudhary (1895–1948), minister and politician Abdul Matin Chowdhury (1921–1981), academic and physicist Abdul Matin Chowdhury (1944–2012), politician Abdul Matin Chowdhury Shaikh-e-Fulbari (1915–1990), religious scholar and political activist Abdul Momin Chowdhury (1947–2024), historian and academic administrator, president of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh (2000–2003) Abdul Munim Chowdhury (born 1967), former MP for Habiganj-1 Abdur Rab Chowdhury (1934–2018), secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture Abdur Rouf Choudhury (1929–1996), writer Abdur Rouf Chowdhury (1935–2014), politician Abdus Salam Chowdhury, former parliamentarian Abdus Sattar Chowdhury, politician Abidur Reza Chowdhury (1872–1961), educationist and politician Abu Lais Muhammad Mubin Chowdhury (1973–2013), former MP for Habiganj-3 Abu Naser Chowdhury, politician Abu Osman Chowdhury (1936–2020), Sector Commander of the Mukti Bahini Abul Fayez Muhammad Abdul Alim Chowdhury (1928–1971), martyred ophthalmologist Abul Hasnat Chowdhury, politician Abul Kalam Azad Chowdhury (born 1946), 23rd vice-chancellor of the University of Dhaka and 11th chairman of the University Grants Commission Abul Kalam Muhammad Ahsanul Hoque Chowdhury (born 1968), member of parliament Abul Khair Chowdhury, former State Minister of Youth and Sports Akram Hossain Chowdhury, politician Alauddin Ahmed Chowdhury (born 1961), MP for Feni-1 Altaf Hossain Chowdhury (born 1942), former Air Force chief Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, politician Altafur Rahman Chowdhury (1926–2018), member of Awami League Aminul Islam Chowdhury (born 1921), founding chairman of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce & Industry Amirul Islam Chowdhury (born 1942), 7th vice-chancellor of Jahangirnagar University and former president of Asiatic Society of Bangladesh Anisul Haque Chowdhury (1926–2011), politician Anisul Haque Chowdhury Rizu, politician Anwar Hossain Chowdhury, retired brigadier general Anwarul Kabir Chowdhury, former parliamentarian Anwarul Karim Chowdhury (born 1943), former UN Under Secretary General Ariful Haque Choudhury (born 1959), former mayor of Sylhet Ayesha Bedora Choudhury (1935–1971), doctor Azizul Haque Choudhury, politician Azizur Rahman Chowdhury (1946–2011), Islamic scholar and politician Chanchal Chowdhury (born 1971), actor Chowdhury Abdul Hai, advocate and politician Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun (born 1964), 29th Inspector General of Bangladesh Police Chowdhury Abu Torab Khan (died 1767), nobleman Chowdhury Gulam Akbar, writer and collector of Bengali folk literature for the Bangla Academy Chowdhury Harunur Rashid (died 2000), founding president of Bangladesh Trade Union Centre Chowdhury Khurshid Alam, politician Chowdhury Motahar Hossain, politician Dewan Shahjahan Eaar Chowdhury, politician Didarul Alam Chowdhury, first chairman of Ramu Upazila Council Ebadur Rahman Chowdhury, former State Minister of Food Ekramul Karim Chowdhury (born 1962), secretary-general of Noakhali Awami League Enam Ahmed Chowdhury (1937–2025), civil servant Enamul Haque Chowdhury (1948–2011), politician Erfan Reza Choudhury, former MNA Farid Uddin Chowdhury (born 1947), teacher, politician and businessman Gias Uddin Chowdhury, politician Golam Ali Chowdhury, Zamindar of Haturia and philanthropist Golam Jilani Chowdhury, former chairman of Sunamganj District Council A.K. Golam Jilani Chowdhury (1904–1932), independence revolutionary Golam Mabud Chowdhury (born 1984), Sylhet Division cricketer Golam Mohiuddin Chowdhury, retired major general Golam Wahed Choudhury (1926–1997), Bangladeshi diplomat and political scientist Gulzar Ahmed Chowdhury (1937–2019), politician Hamidul Huq Choudhury (1901–1992), former Minister of Foreign Affairs Hamza Choudhury, English-born footballer Harris Chowdhury, former MP for Sylhet-5 Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, 11th Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army Hasina Bari Chowdhury (born 1964), former MP Humayun Kabir Chowdhury, former chairman of Patnitala Upazila Council Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, diplomat and former Foreign Affairs Adviser Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury (1944–2001), former Minister of Food Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury (born 1949), editor of The Daily Observer and media adviser to the Prime Minister Ismat Ahmed Chowdhury, politician Izharul Islam Chowdhury, Bangladeshi Islamic scholar Jafrul Islam Chowdhury (1950–2022), former State Minister of Environment and Forest Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (born 1953), 7th Principal Staff Officer of Armed Forces Jahed Ali Chowdhury (1947–2011), former president of Mohammedan SC Jamilur Reza Choudhury, president of Bangladesh Mathematical Olympiad, vice-chancellor of University of Asia Pacific, adviser to Caretaker Government of Bangladesh Kamran Hossain Chowdhury (1952–2024), politician Kamrun Nahar Chowdhury, parliamentarian Khalilur Rahman Chowdhury (died 2013), politician Khan Fazle Rub Chowdhury, former MNA Khosru Chowdhury (born 1973), politician Lutfar Rahman Chowdhury, former parliamentarian M. K. Alam Chowdhury, politician Mafiz Ali Chowdhury (1919–1994), former Minister of Natural Wealth, Science and Technology Research and Atomic Energy Mahbub Kabir Chowdhury, politician Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury (born 1950), former mayor of Chittagong Mahmudul Karim Chowdhury (1938–2005), president of Bangladesh Fisherman's Society Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury, former MP for Sylhet-3 Majibul Haque Chowdhury, former parliamentarian Majibur Rahman Chowdhury, former MNA Masud Uddin Chowdhury (born 1954), 8th Principal Staff Officer of Armed Forces Matia Chowdhury (born 1942), former Minister of Agriculture Matiar Rahman Chowdhury, politician Mazhar Ali Chowdhury (born 1970), actor Mazharul Haq Shah Chowdhury, former vice-chairman of Jatiya Party Mehazabien Chowdhury, actress Mifta Uddin Chowdhury Rumi, former High Court justice Miftah Uddin Choudhury (born 1955), former High Court judge Mina Zaman Chowdhury Jatiya Party (Ershad) politician and the former Member of Bangladesh Parliament Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury (1928–2006), fifth Prime Minister of Bangladesh Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury (died 2013), leader of Mujib Bahini Jaldhaka branch Moazzem Ahmed Chowdhury, former MNA Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury (born 1948), former Minister of Shipping Mohammad Abdul Jalil Choudhury (1942–1989), co-founder of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal Mokhlechhar Rahman Chowdhury, politician Monirul Haq Chowdhury (born 1946), advisor to BNP Chairman Monowar Hossain Chowdhury (born 1948), former chief engineer of LGED Mostaq Ahmad Chowdhury, former administrator and chairman of Cox's Bazar District Council Motaherul Islam Chowdhury, politician and freedom fighter Muhammad Yunus Chowdhury (1906–1992), Islamic scholar and founding president of Befaqul Madarisil Arabia Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury (born 1965), journalist and former advisor to the President Mustafizur Rahaman Chowdhury (born 1957), politician Muzaffar Rahman Chowdhury, former MNA Naiyyum Choudhury, biotechnologist and nuclear scientist Najma Chowdhury, founder of the Women and Gender Studies department in the University of Dhaka, adviser to Caretaker Government of Bangladesh Nasimul Alam Chowdhury (born 1967), former parliamentarian Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, politician Nasiruddin Chowdhury (born 1979), footballer Navila Chowdhury, politician Nazim Kamran Choudhury, former MP Nazir Hossain Chowdhury, politician Nazrul Islam Chowdhury (born 1952), parliamentarian Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, a judge of the High Court Division Nilufar Chowdhury Moni (born 1969), Secretary of BNP Central Committee Nitai Roy Chowdhury (born 1949), former State Minister of Education Noor-E-Hasna Lily Chowdhury, politician Nur Qutb Alam Chowdhury, lawyer and politician Nuruddin Chowdhury Noyon (born 1962), two-time parliamentarian Nurul Alam Chowdhury (1945–2019), former ambassador to Oman and director of Rupali Bank Nural Hoda Choudhury, former MNA Nurul Islam Chowdhury (1925–1995), politician Nurunnabi Chowdhury (born 1968), politician Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury (born 1955), incumbent Minister of Housing and Public Works Omor Faruk Chowdhury (born 1960), former State Minister of Industries Rafiqul Bari Chowdhury (1930–2005), cinematographer and director