Shah

History

In the Gujarat and Rajasthan region, the name "Shah", "Sha", or "Sah" may be derived from Gujarati Sah meaning "merchant" (from Sanskrit Sadhu meaning "honest, good") and Prakrit Sahu, while the actual spelling "Shah" was popularized by the Persian 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/Sahu is also separately used to indicate a holy man, such as a Jain monk (see Namokar Mantra). The Indian surnames "Shah" and "Sahu" are variants of one another which have evolved from the word "Sah" over time. Another variant is Sheth.

One early use of the title Sadhu occurs in an inscription on an AD 850 Pārśvanātha image in the Akota Bronzes.

In numerous 12th–13th century inscriptions the Śrāvaka who installed the image is given the title "Sahu".

For example:

A 12th century Jain altarpiece in Los Angeles County Museum of Art mentions Grahapati Sadhu Kundha

Vibudh Shridhar mentions his patron Nattal Sahu, a 12th-century merchant prince in Delhi.

From Gwalior: Here both Sah and Sadhu have been used in the 1510 inscription.

From Ahar, Madhya Pradesh: "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). In the Bundelkhand 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 (1918–2014), anthologiser of Sufi stories and folk tales

Amina Shah (librarian), Scottish librarian

Amit Shah, Indian politician

Amna Shah, Canadian politician

Arvind Victor Shah, (born 1940), Swiss engineer, educator and scientist

Ashiesh Shah, Indian architect and designer

Balendra Shah, Nepalese rapper, structural engineer, and politician

Brandon Shah (died 2026), American army aviator

Bulleh Shah (c.1680–c.1758), Punjabi Sufi poet

Daisy Shah, Indian Actress

Eddy Shah, 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

Nobility

Bahadur Shah of Nepal, Prince regent of Nepal

Birendra Bir Bikram Shah, King of Nepal

Chatra Shah, King of Gorkha

Dambar Shah, King of Gorkha

Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah, King of Nepal

Dravya Shah, King of Gorkha

Fateh Jung Shah, Prime Minister of Nepal from the royal Shah dynasty

Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah, King of Nepal

Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah, King of Nepal

Krishna Shah, King of Gorkha

Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah, King of Nepal

Nara Bhupal Shah, King of Gorkha

Pratap Singh Shah, King of Nepal

Prithvipati Shah, King of Gorkha

Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah, King of Nepal

Prithvi Narayan Shah, King of Nepal

Purna Shah, King of Gorkha

Pushkar Shah, Mukhtiyar of Nepal from the royal Shah dynasty

Rajendra Bikram Shah, King of Nepal

Ram Shah, King of Gorkha

Rana Bahadur Shah, King of Nepal