Guha Thakurta or Guhathakurta (pronounced [ˈɡuhoʈʰakuɾt̪a]) is an Indian family name and surname found amongst Bengali Hindus.
Guhathakurtas belong to the Kayastha community, a class of Kshatriyas that originated from Kannauj, India's capital during much of the classical period, and immigrated to eastern India during the 11th century AD. Guhathakurtas are Kulin Kayasthas, the highest social rank amongst Bengali Kayasthas, and were originally accorded kulin status by King Ballal Sena.
Since the Sena Dynasty, which ruled Bengal during the 11th and 12th centuries, until the Partition of India in 1947, Guhathakurtas lived in the Barisal District of present-day Bangladesh. As zamindars, the family had extensive landholdings in the region, and were prominent and influential members of Bengali society.
Since 1947, most of the family has resided in the Indian state of West Bengal.
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Many years ago, a king named Adishura decided to perform a yajna for his son. But none of the Brahmins of the Bengal were ready to participate in that yajna, so they suggested the king to call Brahmins from Uttar Pradesh. So five Brahmins came from Kannauj to perform the yajna. To protect the Brahmins, five Kshatriya came with them. Later on, these five Kshatriyas came to known as the Kayasthas. Guha (गुह) is the surname; another name for lord Kartikeya and Thakurta is the title, which means "Protector of the God". Guhathakurta dynasty was founded by Birat Guha who came from Kanyakubja and is a descendent of Saint Kashyap.
Among the castes found in Bengal, besides Brahmana, the highest is the Kayastha. This caste is said to have sprung from the Kshatriya caste. The Kayasthas were divided into the Uttara Rarhis, the Dakshina Rarhis and the Bangajas; the last being the original Kayastha inhabitants of Bengal and they now chiefly live in East Bengal. The Dakshina Rarhis at present have largely spread over this part of Bengal; they are subdivided into three classes, the Kulins and the Mauliks and the Bangajas. The Ghoshes, the Boses and the Mitras (three surnames of the Kayasthas) are the Kulins. The Mauliks are the Deys, the Dutts, the Kars, the Palits, the Sens, the Sinhas, the Dasses and the Guhas(Bangaja) are of the first class, the rest (which number 72) being of the 2nd class. The Guhathakurtas of the Bangaja Kayasthas are Kulin, which means royal.
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