Bhat

Bhat is a surname and clan name used by several communities in the Indian subcontinent. It is not confined to a single ethnic group or region, and different lineages have independently adopted the name. In Kashmir, Bhats are traditionally described as a Brahmin-associated community with a long-standing role in scholarship, learning, and record-keeping; historical references sometimes describe Bhats as genealogists and poets. In other parts of India, Bhat appears as a surname among various Hindu communities and has also been adopted by some families in Muslim communities, reflecting the region’s social history. The exact origin of the surname is uncertain and likely arose in multiple centers.

The etymology of Bhat is contested. Some sources connect it to Sanskrit or Prakrit terms that signify scholar, bard, or priest, while others treat it as a toponymic or occupational name that spread with migrating communities. Regardless of its origin, the name today identifies many unrelated families who share only the surname.

In contemporary usage, people named Bhat live across India and in diaspora communities worldwide. The surname appears in census records, academic literature, and everyday usage, often without implying a single common ancestry beyond the shared name.

See also: Bhatt, Bhatta, Bhat (disambiguation).