Surname Dhau - Meaning and Origin
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Dhau: What does the surname Dhau mean?
The last name Dhau is a distinct surname, that originated from the Dhau caste found in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. The Dhau caste are traditionally fishermen, and their name is derived from the word “dhau” which means “boating” in Punjabi. The community is thought to be indigenous to the region, and have been living there since the Iron Age.
The Dhau are concentrated mainly in the states of West Bengal, Orissa, Goa, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. As a result, the Dhau surname has a wide presence in India’s eastern region.
Due to the Dhau’s location near the ocean, many of the members were involved in making boats, which is why Dhau literally translates as “boatmakers”. Eventually, they also began to engage in trade with boats. Besides boat making and trading, the community has traditionally engaged in other work, such as farming, baking, pottery, weaving, carpentry, gold-weaving, blacksmithing, iron-making, and construction.
Today, as the Dhau families expands and migrates to different parts of the world, the traditional occupations of members of the community have changed and transitioned to different fields and industries. However, the Dhau community still retains its distinct identity and traditions in any place they live.
Order DNA origin analysisDhau: Where does the name Dhau come from?
The last name Dhau is most commonly found in India, particularly in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. It is used by members of certain socio-religious communities who are traditionally associated with the Dhawa caste. The Dhawa are part of the larger Patidar community, and are distinct from the Desai Patidar group.
The Dhawa are known to be prominent agriculturists, and also engage in several other occupations, such as craftsmanship and trade. The name Dhau is believed to have been derived from the community's traditional occupation of weaving cotton. As the Dhawa are spread across various parts of India, the name Dhau is found in multiple states and cities. For instance, in Maharashtra, there are quite a few villages with Dhau as the predominant last name.
In addition to India, the name Dhau has also gained popularity in other countries with sizeable populations of people who trace their ancestry to India, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, the Middle East, and a few countries in Africa. Thus, the surname Dhau can be found in various places around the world.
Variations of the surname Dhau
Dhau is a very old and unique surname of Indian origin, most commonly found in the Rajasthan area. The root of this surname is an ancient Sanskrit word for ‘day’ or ‘dawn’. In various different areas of Rajasthan, the surname Dhau is spelled in various variations such as Dhav, Dhu, Dhaev, Dahiya, and Dholak.
The spelling of the surname Dhau, however, is heavily dependant on the given region and cast. In some areas, the surname may be spelled as Dhawa, Dhava, Dhov, Dhawah, and Dhahiya.The caste based variants of this surname are Dhayal, Dhawala, Dhoolwal, and Dhoolal.
The surname can also be used as a given name to denote certain professions or trustworthiness. The name is often used to refer to a watchman or a night guard. It’s also used as an honorific title for a wise person with reliable advice.
Similar to many other surnames, the usage of this surname has spread, giving rise to alternate spellings in different regions and societies. For example, the surname Dhau is widely used in India to denote people from the Dhoba and Majhwar caste of Rajasthan. This surname has also been found to be adopted by a few families from the Dhaka region of Bangladesh, often being spelled as ‘Dha.’
Other variants of this surname are Dam, Dagar, Dabholkar, Daolak, Dohov, Dhovaria, and numerous other forms in different regions.
Overall, Dhau is an ancient and very unique Indian surname, with numerous variations of its spellings and usage due to its origin and spread.
Famous people with the name Dhau
- Bhimsen Dhau: Bhimsen Dhau was an Indian soldier who was one of the first recipients of India's highest peace-time military award, the Ashoka Chakra.
- Shreeson Dhau: Shreeson Dhau is a Nepalese actor and comedian, best known for his roles in the films Thulo Nimti, Bhaire and Sambodhan.
- Harshal Dhau: Harshal Dhau is an Indian entrepreneur, best known for launching a digital health platform in India.
- Apurva Dhau: Apurva Dhau is an Indian music director, best known for his work in the popular Indian reality television show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa.
- Ujjal Dhau: Ujjal Dhau is an Indian cricketer, known for playing for the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan between 1970 and 1984.
- Nitin Dhau: Nitin Dhau is an Indian actor, best known for his work in television shows such as Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki.
- Ravi Dhau: Ravi Dhau is an Indian politician, and member of the state legislature of Chhattisgarh.
- Mukund Dhau: Mukund Dhau is an Indian filmmaker, known for his documentary films about Indian classical music.
- Akhilesh Dhau: Akhilesh Dhau is an Indian poet, known for writing poetry in the Kannada language.
- Lakda Dhau: Lakda Dhau is an Indian sculptor, known for his carvings in stone.