Surname Kanbur - Meaning and Origin
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Kanbur: What does the surname Kanbur mean?
The last name Kanbur is of Indian origin and is found in individuals of Hindu, Sikh, and Jain faith. The name means “leader,” “chief,” or “headman.” It is likely derived from the Sanskrit word “kan,” which refers to a “noble leader” of some form. In British India, the surname was associated with people who formed the administrative core of the ruling classes.
In modern-day context, the Kanbur surname is mostly found in northern India, particularly among Punjabi and Bengali families. It is also thought to be derived from the Hindu god Krishna, as some members of the family were known to bear the name before it was denounced by invading Mogul forces.
The name is most commonly found as an ancestral or family name, which means that it is passed down through generations. Though it is not a common surname, it can still be found today. Individuals with the Kanbur surname are often born into families of political influence, which ties back to its original meaning of “leader.” They are likely to be hardworking, inspired leaders who seek to make a positive impact in the lives of those around them.
Order DNA origin analysisKanbur: Where does the name Kanbur come from?
The surname Kanbur is most commonly found today in parts of India and the United Kingdom. In India, the surname is particularly common in the western and northeastern states. In the United Kingdom, it is most frequently found in the English counties of Surrey and Kent.
In India, the Kanbur surname is traditionally linked to a Hindu Khatri caste from the Punjab region. Khatris are a group of people who are carefully-respected businessmen and traders. The Kanbur name is derived from the word “kanbaha” which means “one who keeps accounts”, giving evidence of the group’s traditional role.
In the United Kingdom, the surname originated around the turn of the 19th century. This could be due to families being relocated from India due to the Raj or simply people of Indian descent who migrated to the UK at the time.
Kanbur is also a common name in parts of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Canada. It is usually found in large concentrations due to the migration of Indian families in the late 18th to early 20th centuries.
In the United States, Kanbur is not as common, since immigration from India was limited until the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. However, there has been a huge influx of Indian nationals to the United States since then. Therefore, it is likely that Kanbur is a surname familiar to people of Indian descent in places like New York, California, and Texas.
Variations of the surname Kanbur
The surname Kanbur is of Indian origin and has several variants, spellings, and surnames stemming from the same root.
Kanbur is the most common spelling, however, it can also be spelt as Kanpore, Kumbhar, Kunbhar, Kumbhre and Kandhore.
Surnames that are of the same origin as Kanbur are Kumbhar, Kumbrief, Kuumbur, Kumbriyal, Kumbrey and Kumbeer.
Variations of the Kanbur surname have been found in other countries around the world due to immigration including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
Kaman, Kamanbyr, Kanpur, and Kanpuore are variants of the same origin, all being spelt differently. Some variations are easy to spot like the change of letter 'u' to 'o' while some are quite different looking like Kumbrief.
The surname Kanbur is derived from the word kumbha or pot which was used to refer to potters, who traditionally crafted and sold earthenware pottery.
Another variant of the surname is Kumbharwal. This came from the occupation of kumbha (pot)-making. Kumbharwal means a seller of earthenware pottery in Hindi.
The surnames of Kanbur will continue to change due to language and dialect variation and immigration around the world, often being referred to based on the region they were from.
Famous people with the name Kanbur
- Raoul Kanbur: an Indian American economics professor and professional philosopher, specializing in interdisciplinary research in public finance, experimental economics, poverty and development economics, and philosophy of science.
- Ajay Kanbur: a British-American academic and Professor of International Development and Director of the Ogilvie Centre of Entrepreneurship at King’s College London.
- Sarojini N. Kanbur: an Indian American professor and Chair of the Department of Aging and Gerontology at the University of Houston.
- Amitabh Kanbur: a British-American professor of Globalization and Entrepreneurship at the London School of Economics.
- Upinder Kanbur: a Canadian-American professor and Director of the Albert L. Williams Educational Opportunity Program at Washington State University.
- Vijay Kanbur: an Indian American professor and former Chief Economist of the United Nations Development Programme.
- Lata Kanbur: an Indian American professor and the Lakshman and Usha Kasliwal Professor of South Asian Studies at Cornell University.
- Ravi Kanbur: a British-born American professor and T. H. Lee Professor of World Affairs at Cornell University.
- Sujit Kanbur: a British-American professor and Director of Global Development Programs at the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland.
- Gita Kanbur: an Indian-born American professor and the J. Spencer and Patricia Standish Professor of Global Studies and Human Rights at Stony Brook University.