Shah
The origin of the surname Shah
Shah is a title meaning “king,” and in Gujarat a common merchant-community surname.
How Indian surnames work
Indian surnames are extraordinarily diverse, varying by region, language, religion and community. They may indicate an ancestral village or place, an occupation, a community or title (Patel, historically a village headman; Sharma; Gupta; Reddy), or a father's name; in the south, patronymics and initials are common, and Sikh names traditionally use Singh (“lion”) and Kaur (“princess”). A single surname can therefore carry deep information about origin and heritage.
Frequently asked questions
What does the surname Shah mean?
The surname Shah means King; merchant. Shah is a title meaning “king,” and in Gujarat a common merchant-community surname.
Where does the surname Shah come from?
Shah is a surname of Indian origin.
What kind of surname is Shah?
Shah is a other surname.
How common is the surname Shah in the United States?
Shah is the 831st most common surname in the United States (2010 U.S. Census), recorded for about 37,833 people.