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.[1][2][3]

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 (feudal landlord).[2][4] [2] 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 (pahan).[4]

In Bihar, the surname Mahto is also used by people belonging to Kushwaha caste.[5][6] In Jharkhand, it is a term most often associated with Koeri and Kurmi caste.[7][need quotation to verify]

The castes and communities that use Mahto, Mehto or Mahato as a surname, clan name or title include:

Notable people

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Notable people with the surname Mahto or Mahato include:

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Papiya Ghosh (2008). Civil disobdience movement in Bihar, 1930–1934. Manak. p. 94. ISBN 978-81-7827-000-5. ... the surname 'Mahto' was used by Dhanuks, Dusadhs, Goalas, Koeris, Sunris, Tharus, Dhobis, etc, and 'Raut' was used by Amats, Chamars, Dusadhs, Dhanuks, Goalas etc.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Sachchidananda (1988). Social Change in Village India. Concept Publishing Company. p. 12. ISBN 978-81-7022-206-4.
  3. ^ Debi Chatterjee; Sucheta Ghosh; Sumita Sen, eds. (2002). Human Rights: Theory and Practice. South Asian Publishers. p. 128. ISBN 9788170032472. Archived from the original on 2023-09-22. Retrieved 2020-09-20. But a person having 'Mahato' surname may belong to any caste which is included in the prescribed...
  4. ^ a b J. P. Singh Rana (1998). Marriage and Customs of Tribes of India. M.D. p. 215. ISBN 9788175330870. Archived from the original on 2022-06-10. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  5. ^ "बनिया से मन भरा तो महतो को बनाया, सम्राट चौधरी को बीजेपी प्रदेश अध्यक्ष बनाने पर राबड़ी देवी का विवादित". LiveHindustan (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023. Samrat Chaudhary has got the command of state BJP president in Bihar. People have started congratulating Samrat Chaudhary. Meanwhile, Rabri Devi, wife of former state CM and RJD chief Lalu Yadav, while taunting the BJP said that if the mind is filled with the Baniya people, then now the mind has to be filled with the Mahato people. Samrat Chaudhary comes from Kushwaha caste and people of Kushwaha caste also use Mahato surname.
  6. ^ "Part of Nitish's core 'Luv-Kush' votebank & on BJP radar — why Kushwahas are sought after in Bihar politics". the print. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  7. ^ "In Hazaribagh, they still talk of the Mahto meeting". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  8. ^ Makhan Jha (1997). Scheduled Castes Today. M.D. p. 131. ISBN 9788175330603.
  9. ^ K.K.N. Sharma (1998). Genetic Consequent of Child Growth. Northern Book Centre. p. 12. ISBN 9788172110987.
  10. ^ Gautam Kumar Bera (2008). The Unrest Axle: Ethno-social Movements in Eastern India. Mittal. p. 114. ISBN 9788183241458.
  11. ^ Lalan Tiwari (1995). Issues in Indian Politics. Mittal. p. 340. ISBN 9788170996187.
  12. ^ Lalita Prasad Vidyarthi; Binay Kumar Rai, eds. (1977). The Tribal Culture of India. Concept. p. 206.
  13. ^ Sachchidananda (1996). Encyclopaedic Profile of Indian Tribes. Vol. 1. Discovery. ISBN 9788171412983.
  14. ^ K.S.Singh (1992). People of India: The scheduled castes. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 215. ISBN 9788185579092. Archived from the original on 2023-03-25. Retrieved 2023-03-22. Mahato, Bedia, and in a few cases, Majhi, are also used as surnames. The Bedia use Mahato, Majhi, Par gohit, Deshmondel as titles.