Barua (also spelt as Baroa, Baruah, Barooa, Barooah, Baroova, Baroowa, Borooah, Baruva, Baruwa, Borooah, Borua, Boruah) is a common Assamese surname shared by the Assamese communities much like Aroras of Punjab.
In Assam Valley
History
Originally, the Barua surname was used as a military rank in the Sutiya kingdom held by individuals from the Buruk clan.[4] The historical examples, such as Borhuloi Barua, Gajraj Barua, Manik Chandra Barua and Kasitora Barua were Sutiya officials.[5][6]
During the Ahom reign, Barua represented by the Tai word Phu-ke[7](literally: "Leader of 10,000 men" in Ahom language), meant a superintending officer of the Paik system of the Ahom Army.[8]
Appointments as Baruas were made irrespective of the paik's religion or ethnicity. Among other ethnic groups, there is mention of Sutiya Baruas in several instances of Buranjis. For example, there was a Sutiya revolt against the monarchy led by a Sutiya Barua in 1673.[9]Ahom Barua was a position held by the family of the Sutiya Kataki who joined the Ahoms, after the defeat of Sutiyas;[10] while Sutiya Karhi Barua was an officer under whom the Sutiya archers of the king's palace were posted.[11] During the reign of Siva Singha, the Dulia Barua and Kukurachuwa Barua were Sutiyas.[12] Other examples of Sutiya Baruas include Moi Barua (Buruk-Chutia origin[13][14]) and Aruwandhara Barua.[15] The Kachari, Sonowal and ThengalBaruas were of Kachari origin,[16] while the others like Bapu, Bez and Dewalia Baruas were Brahmins.[17] Besides these, during the Moamoria rebellion, the Matak rebels also appointed Baruas among themselves.[18]
Present
The rank bestowed upon the individuals within the Assamese community was adopted by and forms part of the continuum of the Assamese society of several groups – the Ahoms, the Brahmins, the Kalitas, the Koch, the Morans,[19] the Motoks,[20] the Kacharis (Sonowals and the Thengals),[21] besides the Sutiyas.
^"Population by Religious Communities". Census India – 2001. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Retrieved 1 July 2019. Census Data Finder/C Series/Population by Religious Communities
^"Surnames like Bora, Kataki, Saikia, Tamuli, etc. were found in Sutiya kingdom. It is stated in the Deodhai Buranji that when Ahom king Suhungmung attacked the Sutiya kingdom on the banks of Dihing river, the Sutiya army was led by one Manik Chandra Baruah. Deori folklores also mention the myths behind the creation of each of these titles. For instance, "Bora" was said to be derived from the "Buruk" clan and acted either as a military official or a temple guard..."(Baruah 2007:145)
^"The Sutiya army was led by Borhuloi Barua and Manikchandra Barua."(Baruah 2007:129)
^Mahanta, Sukumar. Assam Buranji. D.H.A.S., 1945, p. 10,
Another former Sutiya commander named Gajraj Barua who had sided with the Ahoms showed the enemies the exact way to the location where the king was hiding.
^"As we have argued in the previous chapters that one of the most important support base of ULFA comes from Motok-Moran community. Paresh Boruah, the CIC of ULFA; Anup Chetia, the general secretary; etc., belong to the Motok-Moran community." (Mahanta 2013:284)
^The Motock–Moran, known by a generic name of Moamariyas, are one of the proudest races in the history of Assam, especially in the later part of the 18th century and the early part of 19th century." (Mahanta 2013:199)
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