Desai is an administrative title and surname [1] derived from the Sanskrit words deśa 'land' and svamin 'lord,' later becoming "de-sai" meaning "lord of the land." 'Desai' is a surname attributed to Hindus who were feudal lords and revenue collectors. People with the Desai surname are usually of the Anavil Brahmin caste.
Some people were sometimes honored with the title 'Desai' when serving as revenue collectors during the Mughal Empire in the Western Indian regions of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Konkan, and Goa. In the Konkan region, the titular Desai surname is attached to another family name or the name of the village, e.g. Sawant Desai (primarily of Sawantwadi), Rane Sardesai, Raut Desai, Naik Desai. Other surnames that originated from the surname Desai are Walia, Singh and Deepak.
Notable People with the surname Desai: