01Srivastava at a glance
Srivastava (श्रीवास्तव) is a Chitraguptavanshi Kayastha surname found mainly in the Hindi-speaking states of North India — above all in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. In Kayastha tradition the Srivastava vansh is the line of Bhanu, the eldest son of Bhagwan Shri Chitragupta and Devi Nandini. Below you will find what the name means, where the community comes from, how its history unfolded and the Srivastavas who made India proud.
02Meaning and origin of the name
The name is usually explained as a short form of the Sanskrit Śrīvāstavya — Śrī (God, prosperity) and vās (to dwell): “one in whom Shri dwells”. A second, older explanation connects it with Srivastu or Suvastu, the ancient name of the Swat river, said to be the clan’s first home. Kayastha tradition also links the Srivastavas with the ancient city of Shravasti in Kosala.
The spellings Shrivastava, Shrivastav, Srivastav and Srivastava are all the same surname — the difference is only how it was written in English.
03History of the Srivastava Kayasthas
- Vastavya Kayasthas in old inscriptions — copper-plate inscriptions mention Vastavya Kayasthas serving the Gahadavala kings Govindachandra and Jayachandra of Kannauj and the Chandela king Bhojavarman, some as Thakkura (feudatory lords). Their ancestors are said to have come from Kosam (Kausambi) near Prayagraj.
- The earliest link with Chitragupta — a royal charter of 1115 CE written by a Srivastava feudatory of Govindachandra is the earliest inscription that connects Kayasthas with Chitragupta.
- Varanasi and eastern UP — after the 10th century the recorded history of the clan centres on Varanasi, eastern Uttar Pradesh and central India. Srivastavas held titles such as Pandit, Thakur and Lala.
- Mughal and British India — like other Kayasthas, Srivastava families served as qanungos, munshis, diwans and revenue officers, and were among the first to take up English education, law and government service.
- Freedom struggle — Srivastava families gave the nation leaders such as Lal Bahadur Shastri and Jayaprakash Narayan, and freedom fighters like Tara Rani Srivastava of the Quit India Movement.
04Srivastavas today
Today Srivastava families live in every Indian state and in large numbers in the USA, UK, Canada, the Gulf and Australia. Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Patna, Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bhopal and Jabalpur have especially large Srivastava communities. The old love of the pen continues in new forms — civil services, law, medicine, engineering, teaching, journalism, film and business.
Many Srivastava families write a different surname today — Lal, Prasad, Sahay, Shastri, Bachchan or simply a first name — while keeping “Srivastava” on wedding cards and in family records. That is why writing down your up-jaati for the next generation matters.
05Traditions, gotra and kuldevi
Srivastava families share the customs of all Chitraguptavanshi Kayasthas:
- Chitragupta Puja (Yama Dwitiya) — on Kartik Shukla Dwitiya, the day of Bhai Dooj, the family worships Bhagwan Shri Chitragupta with pen, ink and account books. See the full Kalam-Dawat Puja vidhi and why it falls on Bhai Dooj.
- Resting the pen — in many Srivastava homes the pen is not used from Diwali evening until the puja, and writing begins again with the yearly account written before the Lord.
- Love of learning — education, writing and public service have always been the pride of the vansh.
- Marriage — traditionally within the Chitraguptavanshi Kayastha samaj; today families match horoscopes, education and values more than the exact up-jaati.
Kuldevi: one published community list names Lakshmi Mata as the kuldevi of the Srivastavas, but many families worship a different family goddess. Follow your own family’s tradition — ask the elders or the family priest and write it down.
Gotra: gotras are passed down inside each family and are not the same for every Srivastava. Families that do not know their gotra traditionally take Kashyap gotra, a common Hindu custom.
06Famous people with the Srivastava surname
Here are some well-known people with the Srivastava surname, from the freedom struggle to science, literature, cinema and public service. A surname alone does not tell anyone’s community — where Wikipedia describes the person as Kayastha, we say so.
Many more well-known Srivastava families serve in medicine, law, the armed forces, teaching and business. See also the Legends of the Kayastha community.
07Srivastava families on Kayastha Setu
Searching for Srivastava Kayastha families, a Srivastava rishta or relatives you have lost touch with? On Kayastha Setu you can add your up-jaati (Srivastava / श्रीवास्तव) to your profile, search the family directory by surname and city, look for matches in Kayastha matrimony, and record your lineage in the family tree — starting from Bhagwan Shri Chitragupta ji himself.
Family directory, verified matrimony, family tree, Chitragupta Puja reminders and panchang — free on the Kayastha Setu app.
08Frequently asked questions
Is Srivastava a Kayastha surname?
Yes. Srivastava (श्रीवास्तव) is one of the twelve Chitraguptavanshi Kayastha up-jaatis (sub-castes). The surname is also used by some families of other communities, so a surname alone does not tell anyone’s community.
Who is the founder of the Srivastava vansh?
In Kayastha tradition the Srivastava vansh descends from Bhanu, a son of Bhagwan Shri Chitragupta and Devi Nandini. Different granths spell the names slightly differently.
Which caste is Srivastava?
Srivastava is a sub-caste (up-jaati) of the Chitraguptavanshi Kayasthas, the community that worships Lord Chitragupta as its Kul Devta.
What is the gotra of Srivastava Kayasthas?
Gotras differ from family to family inside the Srivastava vansh. Ask the elders or the family priest; families that do not know their gotra traditionally use Kashyap gotra.
Can Srivastava marry another Kayastha sub-caste?
Yes. Traditionally marriages were within the same up-jaati, but today marriages between the twelve Chitraguptavanshi up-jaatis are common and widely accepted.
How can I find Srivastava families or a Srivastava rishta?
Download the Kayastha Setu app — search the family directory by surname and city and use Kayastha matrimony to find Srivastava and other Kayastha profiles.
Is Shrivastava the same as Srivastava?
Yes. Shrivastava, Shrivastav, Srivastav and Srivastava are different English spellings of the same Hindi surname श्रीवास्तव.
Which famous people are Srivastava?
Lal Bahadur Shastri (born Srivastava), Munshi Premchand (Dhanpat Rai Srivastava), Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan, Jayaprakash Narayan’s family, historian Ashirbadi Lal Srivastava and comedian Raju Srivastava.
09The other Chitraguptavanshi surnames
All twelve vansh trace back to the twelve sons of Bhagwan Shri Chitragupta. Read the story of each one — or the complete Kayastha community guide and Chitragupta ji’s 12 sons.
10Sources & a note
History here follows Kayastha tradition and published sources. Lineage stories differ from family to family, and a surname alone never tells anyone’s community — every family knows its own roots best. Spotted something to correct or add? Write to support@kayasthasetu.com.
Connect with Srivastava families
Download Kayastha Setu — family directory, matrimony, family tree, panchang and live aarti for every Kayastha family.