Hazarika

Hazarika was a Paik officer under the administration of the Ahom kingdom and Koch kingdom. The commander over 1,000 (Hazar) paiks was known as a Hazarika. As it was a purely administrative position, the title holder could belong to diverse ethnic groups and religions.

The word Hazarika is a derivative of the Assamese word - Hazar, meaning one thousand - 1000. The original Tai-Ahom name of the position was ru-ring which later was translated as 'Hazarika' in Assamese.

The surname mostly belongs to the Ahom, Chutia and Koch ethnic groups. Apart from the Ahom Hazarikas, there is mention of Chutia Hazarikas in several instances of Buranjis. For example, during the reign of the Ahom king Susenphaa, the Banrukia Hazarika was of Chutia origins. At the start of the Moamoria rebellion, Kirtichandra Barbarua first sent a force led by a Chutia Hazarika to fight the rebels, who was killed in the battle. During the Dafala invasion of 1672 AD, a Chutia Hazarika was involved in the battle with the Dafalas. After the fall of the Chutia kingdom, Hazarikas were appointed among Chutia blacksmiths and other guilds to look after the works.

Hazarika was also an administrative position in the Koch army. There is mention of a Koch Hazarika in wars against the Ahoms.

Previously, the surname was also written by some Sonowal Kacharis, but it was later replaced by the Sonowal surname. The Kaibarta people also use this surname.

Notable Hazarika people

 * Atul Chandra Hazarika (1903–1986), Assamese litterateur
 * Ayesha Hazarika, Baroness Hazarika (born 1975), Scottish broadcaster, journalist and political commentator & member of the House of Lords.
 * Bagh Hazarika, 17th-century figure from Assam
 * Balaram Hazarika, Assamese animal tracker
 * Bhupen Hazarika, Indian playback singer, lyricist, musician, singer, poet and filmmaker
 * Debananda Hazarika, Indian politician
 * Dhruba Hazarika (born 1956), Indian novelist
 * Diganta Hazarika, actor
 * Jogendra Nath Hazarika, Indian politician, Chief Minister of Assam
 * Mrinal Hazarika
 * Pritam Hazarika (born 1969), Indian cricketer