Persaud


Persaud is a Hindu surname originating in the Kayastha Ambashtha community, primarily found in Guyana, Suriname, South Asia, Fiji, South Africa, Mauritius, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and other parts of the Caribbean. It is derived from the Hindi surname साद which is predominantly transliterated as Prasad in India. Other variant forms include Persad, Persard, Pershard, Prasada, Prashad, Presad, Presaud and Persand.
The surname primarily originated in the Hindi Belt of India, especially in the present-day states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh, and it also originates in the neighboring Terai-Madhesh region of Nepal. Persaud is the most prevalent surname in Guyana with 21,855 Guyanese persons documented to hold the name.
The term Ambashtha refers to a sub-caste of Kayasthas, now found mainly in South-Bihar, who may be connected with the old Ambashtha caste, who were involved in the practice of medicine and surgery. Their origin may have been Western Punjab; the tribe was mentioned in the Mahabharata.

Etymology and history

The name Persaud means "Gracious gift" originally deriving from Hindi "Prasad". The name has connection to multiple Asian religions including Hinduism, Sikhism and Islam where "Prasada" is a food that is used in religious offering.

Geographical distribution

Persaud is most popular surname in Guyana where 1 in 35 persons hold the surname, but it is also a growing common name in Canada ranking 862nd and the UK where 1 in 52,000 hold the surname. This is due to a large amount of Guyanese immigration to North America and Europe.

Notable people named Persaud

Persaud