Chowdhury (Urdu: چودھری; Bengali: চৌধুরী) is a hereditary title of honor originating in the subcontinent.
Its alternate spellings include Chowdary, Chaudhary, Chaudry, Choudary, Choudhry, Chaudhari, Chudhry
Meaning and significance
"Chowdhury" is a term in Indo-Aryan languages, literally meaning "holder of four" in Sanskrit, from čatus (four) and dhuriya (burden of responsibility). The name is an ancient Sanskrit term denoting the head of a community or caste. These people generally belong to Brahmin and kshatriya castes. They are landlords, Zamindars, Thasildar before British Rule.
In India, this title is mainly used by priviledged Brahmins, Ahirs, Gujjars, Jats and Kammas.
Similar lordships existed in other parts of the Eastern world, including in the Ottoman Empire (Malik) and Persia (Arbab).
Humayun Rashid Choudhury, 41st President of the United Nations General Assembly & 7th Speaker of the Bangladesh National Parliament
Faizunnesa Choudhurani, Muslim feminist and awarded the title Nawab by Queen Victoria
Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury, 2nd President of Bangladesh
Justice A. F. M. Ahsanuddin Chowdhury, 9th President of Bangladesh
Fazlul Qadir Chaudhry, 5th Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan
Chowdhury Kazemuddin Ahmed Siddiky, founding president of Assam Bengal Muslim League
Shamsul Huda Chaudhury, 3rd Speaker of the Bangladesh National Parliament
Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury, 5th Prime Minister of Bangladesh
A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury, 13th President of Bangladesh
Justice Badrul Haider Chowdhury, 5th Chief Justice of Bangladesh
Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Speaker of the Bangladesh National Parliament
Anwarul Karim Chowdhury, former UN Under Secretary General
Rezwana Chowdhury, renowned exponent of Tagore songs
Shayan Chowdhury, Bengali indie musician and singer
Samson H. Chowdhury, Bengali Christian entrepreneur and business leader
Justice Mainur Reza Chowdhury, 12th Chief Justice of Bangladesh
Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, former Chief of Staff of the Bangladesh Army
Najma Chowdhury, Academic
Mehazabien Chowdhury, Bangladeshi actress
Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, 19th century aristocrat
Anjan Choudhury, Bengali film director and writer
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Member of the 16th Lok Sabha of India.
Pramatha Chaudhuri, 19th century Bengali writer and an influential figure in Bengali literature.
Salil Chowdhury, Indian music director & composer
Nirad Chandra Chaudhuri, Indian Writer
Chaudhary Charan Singh, 6th Prime Minister of India
Renuka Chowdhury, former Union Minister of State
Chaudhary Devi Lal, former Deputy Prime Minister of India
A. B. A. Gani Khan Choudhury, former Railway Minister of India
Shankar Roychowdhury, former Chief of Staff of the Indian Army
Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri, former Chief of Staff of the Indian Army
Chaudhary Harmohan Singh Yadav, Shaurya Chakra awardee
Bula Choudhury, former national women's swimming champion
Sarita Choudhury, Indian Actress and model
Shagun Chowdhary, Indian shooter
Chaudhary Brahm Prakash Yadav, Former Chief Minister, Delhi
Jogen Chowdhury, eminent Indian painter of 21st century India
Mahima Chaudhry, Indian Actress and model
Sophie Choudry, Indian Actress and dancer
Rita Chowdhury, established poet & novelist, Sahitya Akademi Award recipient
Aadesh Chaudhary, Indian actor
R. B. Choudary, Indian Film producer
Y. S. Chowdary, Indian central minister for state
Gurmeet Choudhary, Indian Television actor
Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, Indian Film director
Ranjit Chowdhry, Indian actor
Arindam Chaudhuri, Indian author
Somlata Acharyya Chowdhury, Indian Singer
Sonali Chowdhury, Indian Actress
Chumki Choudhury, Indian Actress
Rina Choudhury, Indian Actress
Tridha Choudhury, Indian Actress
Binod Chaudhary, Nepalese billionaire
Mahendra Chaudhry, former Prime Minister of Fiji
Cecil Chaudhry, Pakistani academic, human rights activist, veteran fighter pilot
Chaudhary Rahmat Ali, Pakistani Movement activist
Chaudhry Muhammad Ali, 4th Prime Minister of Pakistan
Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry, 5th President of Pakistan
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, 14th Prime Minister of Pakistan
Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, former Chief Justice of Pakistan
Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Minister of Interior of Pakistan
Anjem Choudary, Islamist political activist
Anwar Choudhury, British diplomat
Mamun Chowdhury, British businessman
Roshonara Choudhry, British Islamic extremist
Shefali Chowdhury, English actress of Bangladeshi descent
Michael Chowdry, founder of cargo airliner Atlas Air
Satveer Chaudhary, former Minnesota state senator
Subir Chowdhury, author & management consultant
