Gautam gotra descends from Maharishi Gautama, one of the Saptarishis and a sage of the Angirasa lineage. Rishi Gautama is remembered across Vedic and Puranic literature and is one of the eight rishis whose progeny the Baudhāyana tradition counts as gotra-founders. The lineage is carried today by Brahmin, Rajput, Yadav and several other communities. Maharishi Gautama, a Saptarishi of the Angirasa line, counted among the classical gotra-founding sages.
Gautam is carried across these castes and communities: Brahmin (incl. Maithil, Tamil Iyer), Kayastha (Bengali), Rajput (Suryavanshi/Chandravanshi), Yadav, Kushwaha / Koeri. A surname or gotra marks lineage, not caste by itself — so the same name can appear in more than one community.
Surnames and variants associated with Gautam include: Gautam, Sharma, Joshi, Bhatt, Jha, Iyer, Bose, Rathore, Sisodia, Tomar, Gahlot. Surname–gotra links vary by region and family, so confirm yours with elders.
Two people of Gautam gotra are treated as one lineage (Sagotra) and traditionally do not marry. Because Gautam belongs to the Angirasa group, families following pravar rules may also avoid other Angirasa-line gotras that share pravar rishis. Many families additionally avoid the maternal grandfather's gotra.
When creating a biodata for the Gautam gotra of the Brahmin community, mention your gotra prominently in the horoscope section. Include details like rashi (moon sign), nakshatra (birth star), and manglik status alongside the gotra. If your family follows specific traditions associated with the Gautam lineage, mention those in the "About Family" section.
A pravara is the short list of rishi-ancestors recited after one's gotra in Vedic rituals, for example in sandhya, abhivadaye or a wedding sankalpa. Most pravaras name three rishis: the remote ancestor first and the nearest one last. Some families recite one, two or five. One gotra can have more than one documented pravara. Your family's own recitation is the one to use.
Gana (rishi group): Angirasa – Gautama gana
| Pravara (rishis in recitation order) | Form | Documented in |
|---|---|---|
| Angirasa – Ayasya – Gautama | tri-rishi (3) | Wikipedia, Indica Today |
| Angirasa – Auchathya – Kakshivan – Gautama – Dairghatamasa (five-rishi form in some branches) | pancha-rishi (5) | Indica Today |
Gotra: Gautam | Pravara: Angirasa, Ayasya, Gautama. The pravara line is optional. Many families include it in Brahmin and South Indian biodatas, and leave it out elsewhere.
Pravara and marriage: some communities avoid marriage when the two families share even one pravara-rishi, not just the same gotra. This is a custom, not a law: the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 bars sapinda and other prohibited relationships, not same gotra or pravara. Check both sides with the gotra compatibility checker.
See all gotras in the gotra pravara list · Find your gotra by surname
13 surnames recorded under Gautam gotra in our database. Surnames are shared across communities and regions — the same surname can appear under more than one gotra, so treat this as a starting point and confirm your own gotra with family elders.
Gautam gotra is a Hindu patrilineal lineage named after Maharishi Gautama, a Saptarishi of the Angirasa line. It marks descent from his family and is used in marriage matching.
Traditionally no — same-gotra couples are regarded as one lineage. Some families also avoid other Angirasa-group gotras that share Gautam's pravar rishis.
It appears among several Brahmin sub-groups and also among Kayastha, Rajput, Yadav and Kushwaha families across regions.
Ask family elders, ancestral records, or your family priest. Gotra passes from father to child and cannot be derived from a date or time of birth.
Gautam gotra commonly follows the tri-pravara Angirasa, Ayasya (Āyāsya) and Gautama.
Gautam is carried across 5 communities, including Brahmin (incl. Maithil, Tamil Iyer), Kayastha (Bengali), Rajput (Suryavanshi/Chandravanshi), Yadav, Kushwaha / Koeri. A gotra or surname is a lineage marker rather than a caste, so the same name can appear in more than one community.
Gautam gotra is found among Brahmins, and also appears in other communities such as Kayastha (Bengali), Rajput (Suryavanshi/Chandravanshi), Yadav, Kushwaha / Koeri. Belonging to Gautam gotra does not by itself make a family Brahmin — the community is a separate identifier from the gotra.
Surnames commonly associated with Gautam gotra include Gautam, Sharma, Joshi, Bhatt, Jha, Iyer, Bose, Rathore, Sisodia, Tomar, Gahlot. These vary by region and family — confirm yours with elders or use the gotra finder by surname.
Traditionally, marriage between two people of the same gotra (sa-gotra vivah) is not permitted in Hindu customs. Both families are typically expected to have different gotras for the marriage to proceed.
Include "Gautam" in the horoscope/religious details section of your biodata. Mention it alongside your rashi, nakshatra, and manglik status. You can create a biodata with gotra details for free on BiodataJi.