lodh

Lodh, also spelled Lodha or Lodhi, is a surname and ethnonym used in the Indian subcontinent. The term refers to several distinct groups and should not be taken as representing a single community. In historical contexts, the name is most closely associated with the Lodhi dynasty, a Pashtun or Afghan-origin ruling line that held the Delhi Sultanate from the mid-15th century until 1526. Rulers such as Bahlul Khan Lodhi, Sikandar Lodi, and Ibrahim Lodi governed from Delhi, and their reign ended with the Battle of Panipat against Babur, signaling the beginning of the Mughal era in northern India.

In modern demographics, Lodh, Lodha, and Lodhi are used as surnames by various communities across northern and central India and parts of Nepal. The name is adopted by people of different religions, and its carriers may belong to diverse social groups; it is not confined to a single caste or occupation. Variants in spelling and regional usage are common, reflecting linguistic differences across the subcontinent.

Notable historical associations include the Lodhi rulers of Delhi, while contemporary usage spans individuals in politics, business, and academia who bear one of the name’s spellings. The terms Lodhi, Lodha, and Lodh are often encountered in public records, surnames, and genealogical references, with overlapping but distinct social and historical meanings depending on context.