Mistry (surname)

Mistry, or Mistri (Gujarati: મિસ્ત્રી, Hindi: मिस्त्री, Punjabi: ਮਿਸਤਰੀ, Marathi: मिस्त्री), is an Indian surname. The name can be found among people from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Bangladesh. This surname is used by Vishwakarma communities of India. It is an occupational surname.

They are well known for their skills and arts.

Most people with this surname reside outside India. Out of 1,000 people of Indian heritage in the United Kingdom and United States, every 70th person uses the Mistry surname.

Meaning
Main article: Mistri

The word Mistri or Mistry in Maharashtra and Gujarat refers to experts in architecture, sound, mechanical and technical subjects, or building construction. Mistry also refers to carpenters.

History

The forefathers of those with this name often migrated to other countries to earn a living. Thus, many of the people of Indian origin residing outside the country bear this surname.

Most Gujaratis in India live in the state of Gujarat. Gujaratis also form a significant part of the populations in Mumbai and union territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra Nagar Haveli, former Portuguese colonies.

Large Gujarati immigrant communities live in other parts of India, most notably in Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta, Chennai, Bangalore Kollam, and Kochi.

Gujaratis have acquired a reputation as India's leading merchants, industrialists and business entrepreneurs at the forefront of migrations across the world, particularly to former parts of the British empire such as Fiji, Hong Kong, East and Southern Africa.

Many of these diasporas began in the 1800s. Large numbers of Gujaratis migrated to English speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and the United States.

Globally, Gujaratis are estimated to comprise around 33% of the Indian diaspora worldwide and can be found in 129 of 190 countries listed as sovereign nations by the United Nations. Non Resident Gujaratis (NRGs) maintain active links with the homeland in the form of business, remittance, philanthropy, and through their political contribution to state governed domestic affairs.

Usage

Suthar Community

The Mistri or Mistry is used as a surname by the Vishwakarma Suthar community of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karachi and Rajasthan. It is a common surname found among them.[1]

Parsi Community

Mistri or Mistry is a common surname in the Parsi community of India. This surname was adopted for professional reasons. The word Mistri or Mistry in Gujarati language is identified with people involved in construction. The Parsi community has roots in Gujarat.

Muslim Kadia

Mistry or Mistri is also a surname in the Muslim Kadia community living in Kutch and Saurashtra region of Gujarat. Many use the surname Mistry, which was their community/professional identity before they converted to Islam. Many using Mistry as surname migrated to Zanzibar, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Muscat, Maldives, etc., where they migrated in the nineteenth century.[2][3]

Notables

See also

References
  1. Mistri Encyclopaedia of Backward Castes By Neelam Yadav Page 316.
  2. Aga Khan Trust - giving details of Zanzibar Stone City & main developer Haji Mistry of Kutch - a Muslim Kadia example of use of Mistry surname by Muslim Kadia
  3. Pakistan labour gazette, Volume 15, 1967
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