Bhat

Bhat (also spelled as Bhatt or Butt) is a Brahmin surname in the Indian subcontinent. Bhat and Bhatt are shortened renditions of Brahmabhatta or Bhatta.^[1]

Etymology

The word "Bhat" (Sanskrit: भट्ट, IAST: Bhaṭṭa) means "scholar" in Sanskrit.^[2][3] While the original shortened rendition of "Bhatta" was "Bhat" or "Bhatt,"^[4] many of the Kashmiri Brahmin and Kashmiri Muslim migrants to the Punjab region started spelling their surname as "Butt", which is the transliteration of the name when written using the Urdu/Persian alphabet (as opposed to Bhat when using the Devanagari alphabet).^[5][6][7]

Geographic distribution

Goa

The surname is in use among some Konkani Goud Saraswat Brahmins as well as Konkani Christians (who trace their ancestry to the Goud Saraswat Brahmins of Goa).^[8]

Kashmir

Bhat, also spelled as Bhatt, Batt or Butt, is a Kashmiri Pandit surname found among the Brahmins of the Kashmir Valley, as well as Kashmiris who migrated to Punjab,^[5][6][9] a region now divided between India and the neighbouring Pakistan.^[5]

The Bhats who migrated to Punjab in the late 19th century and the early 20th century due to the 1878 drought, were Brahmin migrants^[5] from Kashmir, escaping discrimination by local rulers and seeking trade opportunities.^{[10][5][11][12]}

The surname is now shared by both Kashmiri Hindus and Kashmiri Muslims who mostly retained their last names.^[13][14]

Punjab

Some Bhats/Butts found in the Punjab region are descendants of those Kashmiri Brahmins^[5] who migrated to different cities of (undivided) Punjab from the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir during the 1878 famine in British India.^[5][6][11]

In Ludhiana, Kashmiris became known for their contribution to the handicraft arena.^[15]

Karnataka and Tamil Nadu

The word Bhaṭṭa (Kannada:ಭಟ್ಟ) or Bhaṭṭar (Tamil: பட்டர்) is traditionally used, especially in the states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka usually to denote a "learned man" or a "scholar" (Brahmins), but also in other southern states.

It was originally used as an honorific like śāstri or paṇḍita, but has become a surname in parts of the country in modern times used as a family name rather than an honorific. In Southern Karnataka naming convention followed is such that, generally, one's father's name is kept as the surname irrespective of caste and many of these honorifics continue to be used as honorifics.^[16]

In earlier times a caste name or village name was used by the Tamils as their last name, but due to the influence of the Dravidian movement, Tamils of all castes have mostly given up caste surnames. However, women frequently adopt their father's or husband's name and take it for successive generations. But, honorific like Bhaṭṭar are still in use in spoken language rather than as a surname.^[17]

This surname is commonly found in Havyaka Brahmins, Kota Brahmins, Shivalli Brahmins, Sthanika Brahmins, Koteshwara Brahmins, Kandavara Brahmins, Hoysala Brahmins of Karnataka.^[18]

Notable individuals

Academics

• Aryabhata (476–550 CE), first of the major mathematician-astronomers from the classical age of Indian mathematics and astronomy
• Bāṇabhaṭṭa, Sanskrit, prose writer and poet
• B. V. Rajarama Bhat, Indian mathematician
• Mayurbhatta, poet of Harsha's court
• Miriam Butt, Professor of Linguistics and Chair of the Department of Linguistics (Facereich Sprachwissenschaft) at the University of Konstanz
• Muhammad Asim Butt, Pakistani Urdu novelist and short story writer
• Motiram Bhatta (1866–1896), Nepali Sanskrit and Khas language poet
• P. Gururaja Bhat (1924–1978), Indian archaeologist
• Pamposh Bhat (born 1958), Kashmiri Indian environmentalist
• Rasheed Butt (born 1944), renowned Pakistani artist and recipient of "The Pride of Performance" 1989
• Shyam Bhat, physician
• Suresh Bhat (1932–2003), Marathi Indian ghazal writer
• U. Narayan Bhat (born 1934), Indian mathematician
• U. R. Bhat, economist
• Vasanti N. Bhat-Nayak, Indian mathematician
• Vinay Bhat (born 1984), American chess player
• Kiran Bhat (born 1990), Indian-American novelist

Actors, models, technicians and musicians

• Ahmed Butt (born 1975), male Pakistani model and actor
• Ali Azmat Butt (born 20 April 1970), Pakistani rock artist and former lead singer of rock band Junoon
• Alia Bhatt (born 1993), Bollywood actress
• Ambreen Butt, Pakistani model
• Anuradha Bhat (born 1969), Indian playback singer
• Asha Bhat (born 1992), Indian model
• Asim Butt (born 1978), Pakistani painter and sculptor and a member of the Stuckist Art Movement
• Biraj Bhatta, Nepalese actor
• DJ Butt (born 1987), Pakistani disc jockey for PTI
• Farhan Saeed Butt (born 1984), Pakistani singer and member of rock band Jal
• Imran Imtiaz Butt, Pakistani singer
• Ganapati Bhat, Hindustani classical vocalist
• Hrishitaa Bhatt, Indian model
• Keerthi Bhat (born 1999), Indian actress
• Mahesh Bhatt (born 1948), Indian film producer and director
• Muhammad Younis Butt (born 1962), Pakistani screenwriter
• Neil Bhatt, Indian television actor, dancer and choreographer
• Osman Khalid Butt (born 1986), Pakistani actor
• Pooja Bhatt (born 1972), Indian actress
• Praneet Bhat, Kashmiri Indian actor
• Rabia Butt, Pakistani model
• Rahul Bhat, Kashmiri Indian actor
• Ramesh Bhat, Indian actor
• Samina Peerzada Butt, Pakistani actress
• Tanmay Bhat, Indian actor and comedian
• Yogaraj Bhat (born 1972), Indian film writer and director

Businesspeople

• Baiju Bhatt (born 1984/1985), American billionaire, co-founder of Robinhood

Military

• Muhammad Zaki Butt (1929–1993), former Air Commodore in the Pakistan Air Force and bodyguard of Quaid-e-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah
• Ziauddin Butt, former Chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence
• Tahir Rafique Butt (born 1955), 20th Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force
• Malik Tazi Bhat, 15th-century warlord, from Jammu, who fought the Lodhi Dynasty

Politics

• Balaji Vishwanath Bhat (born 1662), Peshwa of the Maratha Empire
• Baji Rao I (born 1700), Peshwa of the Maratha Empire
• Ghulam Mustafa Bhat, former mayor of Srinagar
• Hassan Butt (born 1980), the former spokesman for the disbanded British Islamist group Al-Muhajiroun

• Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif, First Lady of Pakistan, wife of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, of Kashmiri origin
• Khemraj Bhatta "Mayalu", Nepali Congress politician
• Lekh Raj Bhatta, Nepali CPN Maoist politician
• Masarat Alam Bhat (born 1971), Kashmiri separatist
• Maqbool Bhat (1938–1984), executed Kashmiri separatist
• Shakeel Bhat (born c. 1978), outspoken Kashmiri separatist activist, labelled as an "Islamic Rage Boy" by Western media
• S. L. Bhat, Kashmiri Indian serving as chairman of the Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission
• Shailen Bhatt administrator of the Federal Highway Administration
• Sohail Shaukat Butt (born 1983), Pakistani politician
• Trilochan Bhatta (born 1969), Nepalese politician and current Chief Minister of Sudurpashchim Province, Nepal
• Umer Tanveer Butt (born 1982), politician and Member of the Punjab Provincial Assembly, businessman, and philanthropist

Scientists

• Noor Muhammad Butt (born 1936), Pakistani nuclear physicist, research scientist, and chairman of the Pakistan Science Foundation
• Parvez Butt (born 1942), Pakistani nuclear engineer and former chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
• Atul Butte, researcher in biomedical informatics and biotechnology entrepreneur in Silicon Valley

Sports

• Amad Butt (born 1995), Pakistani cricket player for Islamabad United, of Kashmiri origin
• Arif Butt (1944–2007), Pakistani cricket player
• Arvind Bhat (born 1979), Indian badminton player
• Abhishek Bhat (born 1989), Indian cricket player
• Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt (1878—1960), popularly known by his ring name the Great Gama, pehlwani wrestler of Kashmiri Muslim origin
• Hussain Butt (born 1976), Pakistani cricketer
• Ijaz Butt (1938–2023), former chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board and cricket player, of Kashmiri origin
• Ikram Butt (born 1968), rugby player for England, of Pakistani/Kashmiri origin
• Muhammad Sharif Butt (1926–2015), Pakistani sprinter
• Pramila Bhatt (born 1969), Indian cricketer
• Raghuram Bhat (born 1958), Indian cricketer
• Rehan Butt (born 1980), Pakistani field hockey player
• Samad Bhat (born 1995), Indian cricket player
• Salman Butt (born 1984), Pakistani cricketer
• Sadia Butt (born 1975), Pakistani cricketer
• Shujauddin Butt (1930–2006), Pakistani cricketer
• Yasir Butt (born 1986), Pakistani squash player
• Yousuf Butt (born 1989), Pakistani footballer

See also

• India portal
• Pakistan portal

• Barot (caste)
• Bhattacharyya
• Bhati

References

1. Hanks, Patrick (8 May 2003). Dictionary of American Family Names: 3-Volume Set. Oxford University Press, USA. p. 214. ISBN 978-0-19-508137-4.
2. Sahagala, Narendra (1994). Converted Kashmir: Memorial of Mistakes. Utpal Publications. p. 53. ISBN 978-81-85217-06-2. Bhat means a Brahmin, teacher, who imparts knowledge.
3. Sehgal, Narender (1 January 2013). A State In Turbulence Jammu & Kashmir. Prabhat Prakashan. p. 18. ISBN 978-81-8430-242-4.
4. Saligram Bhatt (2008). Kashmiri Scholars Contribution to Knowledge and World Peace. APH. ISBN 9788131304020. Retrieved 2 December 2010. Bhat {Bhatt}, surnames are found in Uttaranchal, Northern Belt, Central and Western parts of the country and is a surname of sizeable Brahmins in Konkan, Maharashtra and Gujarat; where they had migrated in sizeable strength. Bhattas who migrated to Gauda {Bengal} were called Acharaya's {Scholars} and thus Bhattacharaya's. In Nepal, they became priests, ardent worshippers of Bhadrakali and spread Kali worship; mostly around Pashupatinath Temple. In Uttaranchal, they became the Purohit {Priestly} class, adopted the surname Purohit, many changed profession but retained the Bhatt surname. In northern plains, few became Bhattas, many Bhatts; in both cases Purohit {Priestly} class. In Central and Western parts, strict requirements of a Bhatta {Purohit} could not be sustained, and to indicate the Brahmin roots they opted for a surname only. Thus Bhatta and Purohit are surnames of the same category. Bhatta has a shortened version, Bhat {Bhatt}; referring to the same class of people. Surname Bhat {Bhatt} in Kas'mira can also be traced to the short form of Bhatta. In Kas'mira, the Bhatta honorific has been associated with many personalities, scholars of the 9th and 10th centuries, scriptures, and specific in many cases in the 14th century and later.
5. The Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India, Volume 52. The Survey. 2003. Retrieved 2 December 2010. The But/Butt of Punjab were originally Brahmin migrants from Kashmir during 1878 famine.
6. Kaul, P.K. (2006). Pahāṛi and other tribal dialects of Jammu, Volume 1. Eastern Book Linkers. ISBN 9788178541013. Retrieved 2 December 2010. The But/Butt of Punjab were originally Brahmin migrants from Kashmir during 1878 famine.
7. "Madras journal of literature and science, Volume 4". Athenæum Press. 1836. Retrieved 2 December 2010. Bhatt (vulgarly Butt) is the distinctive name of a class of Bramins in the north; and in the south the same class bear the distinctive title of Pattar
8. Alan Machado Prabhu (1999). Sarasvati's Children: A History of the Mangalorean Christians. I.J.A. Publications. p. 137.
9. Explore Kashmiri Pandits. Dharma Publications. ISBN 9780963479860. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
10. Bahl, Arvin (2007). From Jinnah to Jihad: Pakistan's Kashmir Quest and the Limits of Realism. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 76. ISBN 9788126907212.
11. The quarterly journal of the Mythic Society (Bangalore)., Volume 96. The Society. 2005. Retrieved 2 December 2010. Even today most common family name in Kashmir is Butt, a distortion of Bhatt, a Hindu surname common amongst the Brahmins in India.
12. Saligram Bhatt (2008). Kashmiri Scholars Contribution to Knowledge and World Peace. APH. ISBN 9788131304020. Retrieved 2 December 2010. Bhat {Bhatt}, surnames are found in Uttaranchal, Northern Belt, Central and Western parts of the country and are a surname of sizeable Brahmins in Konkan, Maharashtra, and Gujarat; where they had migrated in sizeable strength. Bhattas who migrated to Gauda {Bengal} were called Acharaya's {Scholars} and thus Bhattacharaya's. In Nepal, they became priests, ardent worshippers of Bhadrakali and spread Kali worship; mostly around Pashupatinath Temple. In Uttaranchal, they became Purohit {Priestly} class, adopted the surname Purohit, many changed profession but retained the Bhatt surname. In northern plains, few became Bhattas, many Bhatts; in both cases Purohit {Priestly} class. In Central and Western parts, strict requirements of a Bhatta {Purohit} could not be sustained, and to indicate the Brahmin roots they opted for a surname only. Thus Bhatta and Purohit are surnames of the same category. Bhatta has a shortened version, Bhat {Bhatt}; referring to the same class of people. Surname Bhat {Bhatt} in Kas'mira can also be traced to a short form of Bhatta. In Kas'mira, the Bhatta honorific has been associated with many personalities, scholars of the 9th and 10th centuries, scriptures, and specific in many cases in the 14th century and later.
13. Parvéz Dewân (January 2004). Parvéz Dewân's Jammû, Kashmîr, and Ladâkh: Kashmîr. Manas Publications. ISBN 9788170491798. Retrieved 2 December 2010. This is a surname shared by Hindus and Muslims.
14. Sharma, Usha (1 January 2001). Political development in Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. Radha Publications. ISBN 9788174870629. Retrieved 11 January 2015. Surnames like 'Bhatt' and 'Pandit' are common to both Hindus and Muslims.
15. "Kashmiris' contribution to Ludhianvi culture". The Tribune. 24 July 2003. Retrieved 25 March 2007. In fact, the Ludhiana hosiery industry owes its origin to Kashmiris. According to the Ludhiana District Gazetteer, during a devastating famine in the 19th century a number of Kashmiris migrated to Ludhiana. They are known world over for their handicraft skills. They started weaving woollen fabric there. Slowly the trade got popular and Ludhiana started to be identified with hosiery only
16. "India Personal Names". www.familysearch.org. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
17. "Indian Culture - Naming". Cultural Atlas. January 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
18. "Hoysala Karnataka Brahmins", Wikipedia, 15 May 2023, retrieved 30 May 2023