Sheikhs of Bengal

Sheikh (Bengali:শেখ , romanized: Shekh) is an aristocratic Bengali Muslim surname found in the Bengal region of the subcontinent.

Etymology and History

The surname "Sheikh" is prevalent in the Bengali Muslim community. It is from the Arabic word "Sheikh" ( Arabic: شيخ shaykh [ʃajx]), meaning elder, this word is also applied to those who are in a position of respect such as a leader, especially a religious leader or preacher. After the advent of Islam into the subcontinent, then eventually into Bengal, many Sufi Islamic preachers known as 'Pirs' and 'Dervishes' from places in Western Asia such as Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan had come to spread Islam in Bengal.[1][2][3] Notable amongst these Sufi Muslim preachers were Shah Jalal, Bayezid Bostami, Sultan Balkhi, and many other preachers had come to Bengal, all at different times. These preachers had been given the title of 'Sheikh', in Bengal, the title of a person's ancestor in society is the family name, the descendants of these Islamic preachers have the family name of 'Sheikh'. They are part of a larger social class in Bengal, known as the 'Khandan' or 'Sharif', the upper class of Bengali Muslim society.[4] Amongst, this class are families with surnames with a similar origin, being taken from the founder of the family's title, such as 'Khondaker', 'Syed', 'Kazi', 'Mirza', and more.[5]

Notables with the Surname

See also

References
  1. RAHAMAN, MD. SHAH NOORUR (1995). "ISLAM AND ITS EARLY INTRODUCTION IN BENGAL". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 56: 425–434. ISSN 2249-1937.
  2. "Islam: Islam in South Asia | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  3. "Islam, Bengal - Banglapedia". en.banglapedia.org. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  4. "Social Structure - Banglapedia". en.banglapedia.org. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  5. "📖[PDF] Identity of a Muslim Family in Colonial Bengal by Mohammad Rashiduzzaman | Perlego". www.perlego.com. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
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