Mahto

Mahto or Mahato is a surname used by several castes and communities in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha in India. Mahato is also a popular surname in Nepal. In the zamindari villages, "Mahto" was a title given to the headman of a village ward. The mahto's duties were to maintain peace in his area, and collect revenue for the zamindar (feudal landlord). In Chotanagpur plateau region of Jharkhand, including in the Oraon tribal society, Mahato was historically a title of the village chief. In Bihar, the surname Mahto is primarily used by people belonging to Kushwaha caste. While in Jharkhand, it is a term most often associated with Koeri and Kurmi caste.

The castes and communities that use Mahto, Mehto or Mahato as a surname, clan name or title include:

• Beldar

• Bhumihar

• Chamar

• Dhanuk

• Dhobi

• Dusadh

• Goala

• Khairwar

• Koeri

• Kudmi

• Oraons

• Bedias

• Sunris

• Tharus

• Yadavs

• Brahmins

Notable people
Notable people with the surname Mahto or Mahato include:
 * Abha Mahato (born 1964), Indian politician from Jharkhand
 * Aklu Ram Mahto (1940-2020), Indian politician from Jharkhand, served as Minister of Finance in undivided Bihar
 * Amit Mahto, Indian politician from Jharkhand
 * Ashwamedh Mahto (born 1967), Indian politician from Bihar
 * Baidyanath Prasad Mahto (born 1947), Indian politician from Bihar
 * Bandhu Mahto,Indian politician from Bihar
 * Baneswar Mahato, Indian politician from West Bengal
 * Banshilal Mahto (1940–2019), Indian politician from Chhattisgarh
 * Bebi Mahto, Member of Jharkhand Legislative Assembly, minister in Government of Jharkhand
 * Bhajahari Mahato (1911–2003),Indian politician from West Bengal
 * Bidyut Baran Mahato (born 1963), Indian politician from Jharkhand
 * Binod Bihari Mahato (1923–1991), Indian politician and advocate from Jharkhand
 * Bir Singh Mahato (1945–2021), Indian politician from West Bengal
 * Birendra Prasad Mahato, Nepalese politician
 * Buli Mahato (Died 14 June 1834), A revolutionary leader of the Bhumij and Kol Rebellion from Jharkhand
 * Chanku Mahato (1816-1856), Indian freedom fighter(Santhal Rebellion).
 * Chhatradhar Mahato (born 1964), Indian political activist from West Bengal
 * Chitta Mahato, Indian politician from West Bengal
 * Dhananjay Mahato (1919–2014), Indian freedom fighter, social activist, and politician from Jharkhand
 * Dulu Mahato Indian politician from Jharkhand
 * Jagannath Mahto, Indian politician from Jharkhand
 * Jagdish Mahto, communist activist and founder of Naxalism in Bihar
 * Jaleshwar Mahato, Indian politician from Jharkhand
 * Julie Kumari Mahato, Nepalese politician, former minister.
 * Jyotirmay Singh Mahato, Indian politician from West Bengal
 * Khiru Mahto (1953), Indian politician from Jharkhand
 * Kishor Mahato 2 April 2000, Nepalese fast bowler Cricketer from Nepal
 * Lambodar Mahto, Indian politician from Jharkhand
 * Laxmi Mahato Koiri, Nepalese politician
 * Lok Nath Mahato, Indian politician from Jharkhand
 * Mriganko Mahato (born 1963), Indian politician from West Bengal
 * Muga Lal Mahato, Nepalese politician
 * Narahari Mahato (born 1956), Indian politician from West Bengal
 * Nepal Mahato, Indian politician from West Bengal
 * Nirmal Mahto (1950–1987), Indian politician from Jharkhand
 * Pradeep Mahto, Indian politician from Bihar
 * Purnima Mahato, Indian archer and archery coach from Jharkhand
 * Rabindra Nath Mahato, India Politician from Jharkhand, Speaker of Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha
 * Raghunath Mahato, Indian freedom fighter(Chuar Rebellion)
 * Raj Banshi Mahto, Indian politician from Bihar
 * Raj Kishore Mahato, Indian politician from Jharkhand
 * Rajendra Mahato (born 1958), Former Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal
 * Ramdeo Mahto, CPI(M) leader and six time MLA from Bihar.
 * Ramdev Mahato, former Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly from Madhubani Assembly constituency
 * Ram I. Mahato, Professor, Scientist and chairman of the Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, USA
 * Ram Lakhan Mahato, (1947-2020) Indian politician from Bihar
 * Ram Padarnath Mahto, former minister in Government of Bihar
 * Ram Prakash Mahto, politician from Bihar
 * Rambalak Mahto,(born 1924) Advocate General of the state of Bihar
 * Rameshwar Mahto, Indian politician from Bihar
 * Ramdeo Mahto, one of the founder leader of Bhartiya Jana Sangh, the parent organisation of Bharatiya Janata Party in Bihar, Former member of Bihar Legislative Assembly from Patna East Assembly constituency
 * Sagina Mahato, Indian Social activists and leader of labour movement 1942–43 from West Bengal
 * Santiram Mahato, Indian politician from West Bengal
 * Satrudhan Mahato, Nepalese politician
 * Shailendra Mahato, Indian politician from Jharkhand
 * Shiva Mahto, three time Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly from Dumri Assembly constituency
 * Sitaram Mahato, Nepalese Politician
 * Sudesh Mahto, Indian politician, Former deputy chief minister of Jharkhand
 * Sudhir Mahato,Indian politician, Former deputy chief minister of Jharkhand
 * Suman Mahato (born 1964), Indian politician from Jharkhand
 * Sunil Kumar Mahato (1966–2007), Indian politician from Jharkhand
 * Sushanta Mahato, member of West Bengal Legislative Assembly.
 * Tek Lal Mahto, Indian politician from Jharkhand
 * Tooni Mahto, marine biologist
 * Yogeshwar Mahto, Indian politician from Jharkhand