Joshi

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This article is about the family name. For other uses and people with the name, see Joshi (disambiguation).

Joshi is a family name common in many parts of Nepal and India, especially in the North and the West (Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra). The word Joshi is derived from "Jyotishi" meaning Astrologer. The surname Joshi is an indicator that the person is a Hindu Brahmin.

People with surname जोशी can be found in Northern parts of India typical called "Pahari Pandit", Maharashtra, Gujrat and Karnataka states of India. In Maharashra - जोशी may be either Chitpavan or Deshastha Brahmin.

In Deccan India, the Marathi and the Kannadiga have the name ज़ोशी (nasalised J) as opposed to जोशी in North India and Nepal, however, it's the same surname.

Joshi is also a common Christian First Name in South India (especially in Kerala and Tamil Nadu). Here 'Joshi' is more of a pet name ('vili peru') that means 'Joseph' or 'Joshua'.