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 ParliamentFaizunnesa Choudhurani, Muslim feminist and awarded the title Nawab by Queen VictoriaJustice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury, 2nd President of BangladeshJustice A. F. M. Ahsanuddin Chowdhury, 9th President of BangladeshFazlul Qadir Chaudhry, 5th Speaker of the National Assembly of PakistanChowdhury Kazemuddin Ahmed Siddiky, founding president of Assam Bengal Muslim LeagueShamsul Huda Chaudhury, 3rd Speaker of the Bangladesh National ParliamentMizanur Rahman Chowdhury, 5th Prime Minister of BangladeshA. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury, 13th President of BangladeshJustice Badrul Haider Chowdhury, 5th Chief Justice of BangladeshShirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Speaker of the Bangladesh National ParliamentAnwarul Karim Chowdhury, former UN Under Secretary GeneralRezwana Chowdhury, renowned exponent of Tagore songsShayan Chowdhury, Bengali indie musician and singerSamson H. Chowdhury, Bengali Christian entrepreneur and business leaderJustice Mainur Reza Chowdhury, 12th Chief Justice of BangladeshHasan Mashhud Chowdhury, former Chief of Staff of the Bangladesh ArmyNajma Chowdhury, AcademicMehazabien Chowdhury, Bangladeshi actressUpendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, 19th century aristocratAnjan Choudhury, Bengali film director and writerAdhir 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 & composerNirad Chandra Chaudhuri, Indian WriterChaudhary Charan Singh, 6th Prime Minister of IndiaRenuka Chowdhury, former Union Minister of StateChaudhary Devi Lal, former Deputy Prime Minister of IndiaA. B. A. Gani Khan Choudhury, former Railway Minister of IndiaShankar Roychowdhury, former Chief of Staff of the Indian ArmyJoyanto Nath Chaudhuri, former Chief of Staff of the Indian ArmyChaudhary Harmohan Singh Yadav, Shaurya Chakra awardeeBula Choudhury, former national women's swimming championSarita Choudhury, Indian Actress and modelShagun Chowdhary, Indian shooterChaudhary Brahm Prakash Yadav, Former Chief Minister, DelhiJogen Chowdhury, eminent Indian painter of 21st century IndiaMahima Chaudhry, Indian Actress and modelSophie Choudry, Indian Actress and dancerRita Chowdhury, established poet & novelist, Sahitya Akademi Award recipientAadesh Chaudhary, Indian actorR. B. Choudary, Indian Film producerY. S. Chowdary, Indian central minister for stateGurmeet Choudhary, Indian Television actorAniruddha Roy Chowdhury, Indian Film directorRanjit Chowdhry, Indian actorArindam Chaudhuri, Indian authorSomlata Acharyya Chowdhury, Indian SingerSonali Chowdhury, Indian ActressChumki Choudhury, Indian ActressRina Choudhury, Indian ActressTridha Choudhury, Indian ActressBinod Chaudhary, Nepalese billionaireMahendra Chaudhry, former Prime Minister of FijiCecil Chaudhry, Pakistani academic, human rights activist, veteran fighter pilotChaudhary Rahmat Ali, Pakistani Movement activistChaudhry Muhammad Ali, 4th Prime Minister of PakistanFazal Ilahi Chaudhry, 5th President of PakistanChaudhry Shujaat Hussain, 14th Prime Minister of PakistanIftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, former Chief Justice of PakistanChaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Minister of Interior of PakistanAnjem Choudary, Islamist political activistAnwar Choudhury, British diplomatMamun Chowdhury, British businessmanRoshonara Choudhry, British Islamic extremistShefali Chowdhury, English actress of Bangladeshi descentMichael Chowdry, founder of cargo airliner Atlas AirSatveer Chaudhary, former Minnesota state senatorSubir Chowdhury, author & management consultant