Sharmas

Sharmas is the plural form of the surname Sharma, a common last name in India and among the Indian diaspora. The name originates from the Sanskrit word शर्मा (śarmā), which historically denoted a learned scholar or a teacher, and is associated with the ancient Vedic sage Sharmak. In modern usage, Sharma is held by people of diverse occupations and social backgrounds, and it is one of the most prevalent surnames in northern and western India.

The demographic spread of Sharmas is broad. In India, the surname is especially common in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and the northeastern region of Assam. Census data show that Sharmas comprise a significant proportion of the Brahmin caste, but the name is also adopted by groups outside the Brahmin community, reflecting a history of social mobility. Globally, Sharmas form substantial communities in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, and Australia, largely due to migration in the latter half of the 20th century.

Notable individuals bearing the surname include the physicist N. N. Sharma, the Bollywood actor Shyam Sharma, and the politician L. Sharma of the Indian National Congress. In literature, the fictional detective Shashirekha Sharma appears in contemporary Indian crime novels. The surname has also been used in corporate and brand names, such as Sharma & Co., a civil engineering firm in Mumbai.

In popular culture, Sharmas are sometimes depicted in media as embodying the intellectual tradition of the Brahmin lineage, though such portrayals may oversimplify the diversity within the community. Studies in onomastics and social anthropology identify the surname as a marker of cultural identity that has evolved through historical, linguistic, and migratory processes.