Bisht (surname)
| Language | Kumaoni, Garhwali, Mahasui, Kinnauri, Sirmauri, Nepali, Hindustani language |
|---|---|
| Origin | |
| Derivation | Bishishta (Distinguished) |
| Meaning | Baron or landholder |
| Other names | |
| Variant forms | Bishta, Bista, Bist, Bajetha |
| See also | Mahara, Rawat, Dhami, Airee, Negi, Rautela Panwar |
Bisht (IPA: [bɪʃʈ]) is a surname found in the Indian states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Bisht was a title given by kings to nobles, derived from the Sanskrit vishisht ("distinguished"). The term "Bisht" originally referred to someone who held a land grant from the government. The Bisht families in Uttarakhand were chiefly Thokdars(Zamindars) of Thuljat origin. In Uttrakhand, Bishts are generally Kshatriya as well as Brahmins in certain parts of East Uttrakhand. In Nepal, Bisht was adopted as a surname by Raute and Raji people. Bishta, as Bista, used as a surname by Khas people, group under the caste Chhetri.