Tarafdar

Tarafdar (spelling variations: Taraphdar, Taraphder, Tarafder) is a surname found in the states of West Bengal and Karnataka in India. Historically, the surname originates from Afghanistan, but was brought to West Bengal by Afghan settelers . The title was bestowed upon the Kings of West Bengal.

The Tarafdar maintained all the accounts and handled all the monetary/financial transactions for his land.

The title was a prestigious position, so descendants continued claiming it, and it turned into a surname.

In Bengali it indicates someone who is a joiner of organizations.

It was also a title bestowed by the Ottoman Turks. A ruler of a "Taraf" was a "Tarafdar". It has come to be used as a last name in every country where the Ottomans once had their empire.

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