Maitra


Maitra, alternatively spelled as Moitra or Maitreya is a Bengali Hindu surname found mostly among the Bengali Brahmins of Varendra clan.

History

The Maitra surname has deep roots in ancient Bengal. It is one of the Baidya surnames, the others being Sengupta, Dasgupta, Duttagupta, and Kar etc. The Baidyas, who were traditionally physicians and Ayurvedic scholars, occupied a high social and intellectual status in Bengal’s caste hierarchy.
Historical records from the medieval period mention Maitras as landowners, physicians, and administrators in various parts of Bengal. During the Bengal Renaissance, several Maitra families became influential in education, literature, and social reform.

Notables