Mahto


Mahto or Mahato is a surname used by several castes and communities in Nepal and the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha in India.
Historically, Mahato was the hereditary title of the village headman, whose duties were to maintain peace in his area, and collect revenue for the zamindar. In multi-caste villages of Bihar, the zamindar used to give the title of Mahato to one person each from the Bhumihar, Yadav, and Beldar caste. The traditional Oraon villages had a similar role for the Mahato, who served as the secular head of the village and jointly held the administrative authority with a priest.
In Bihar, the surname Mahto is also used by people belonging to Kushwaha caste. In Jharkhand, it is a term most often associated with Koeri and Kurmi caste.
The castes and communities that use Mahto, Mehto or Mahato as a surname, clan name or title include:

Notable people

Notable people with the surname Mahto or Mahato include: