From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Deshpande (Marathi: देशपांडे) (Kannada: ದೇಶಪಾಂಡೆ)is a common surname in the states of Maharashtra and Northern Karnataka,India. Deshpande was the revenue post created by the King Krishnadevrai of Devgiri (Daulatabad). One Deshpande used to be appointed superior to about 10 Pandes. More than 96% of Deshpandes belong to the Deshastha Brahmin community.^{[citation needed]} However this surname is also found in CKP (Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu) communities, where there are at least 100 CKP families that have this surname. Some Goud Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) families also have this surname. Deshpande also predominantly denotes a Brahmin in Northern Karnataka, and is one of the influential surnames in this region, akin to surnames such as Kulkarni and Patil.

Meaning

Deshpande derives from the Marathi title dešpande, or "district accountant". Dešpande was formerly a hereditary office, and is ultimately derived from the Sanskrit terms deśa ("country", or "district") and pandita ("learned man").

Prominent Deshpandes

• Baji Prabhu Deshpande, a 17th century lieutenant of Shivaji
• Chimanaji Deshpande, 17th century military general
• Murarbaji Deshpande, 17th century military general
• Nirmala Deshpande, Padmashri award winner (2005)
• P. L. Deshpande (known as PuLa); Marathi writer, playwright, actor, and song-writer
• Vasantrao Deshpande; Hindustani classical and Natya Sangeet singer
• Gururaj Deshpande, Indian American businessman and co-founder and chairman of Sycamore Networks and chairman of A123 Systems
• Nikita Deshpande; 21st Century classical dancer and poet of Maharashtran arts, today resident in the USA