Mehta is an Indian surname.

The word Mehta means "chief",[citation needed] and may

be derived from the Sanskrit word mahita ("great" or "praised").[original
research?] It is found among several Indian communities, including Hindus, Jains,
Parsis, and Sikhs. Among Hindus, it is used by a wide range of castes and social
groups, including Banias, Brahmins, and Khatris.[1]

People with this surname are native to north-western regions of India, including
Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra (Mumbai).[1] In Rajasthan, Mehta was
originally used as a term of respect applied to non-Rajput administrative office
holders, most of whom were Oswals, other Vaishyas, and Kayeths.[2] In the Gujarati
language, the term was used to address teachers and accountants, becaming
associated with these professions.[1]

Among Oswals, Porwal Banias, and Punjabi Khatris, it is a clan name.[1]

Notable Mehtas
Notable individuals with this surname include:

Aditya Mehta, snooker player

Ajay Mehta, Indian actor
Amit P. Mehta, United States district judge
Anil Mehta, film director, cinematographer
Ashok Mehta, Indian cinematographer
Balwant Rai Mehta, Gujarat's second Chief Minister
Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Indian academic and think tank.
Bejun Mehta, American countertenor
Deepa Mehta, Canadian film director and screenwriter
Devaanshi Mehta, British-Indian student who started the Asian Donor Campaign
Gulshan Kumar Mehta, Indian lyricist and actor
Hansa Jivraj Mehta, Indian reformist, social activist, educator, independence
activist, and writer
Harshad Mehta, Indian stockbroker, who was later convicted
Hemant Mehta, American-born Indian author
Homi Maneck Mehta (1871�1948), Indian industrialist and philanthropist
Jagat Singh Mehta, Foreign Secretary of India
Jamshed Nusserwanjee Mehta (1886�1952), Mayor of Karachi
Jay Mehta, businessman and owner of the Mehta Group
Jehangir Mehta, chef and owner of New York City restaurants
Jivraj Narayan Mehta, Gujarat's first Chief Minister
Kalu Mehta, father of Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak