Shenoy

Shenoy (Devanagari: शणै, शणय, शेणवी; historicaly स्येनवि, सेण्णवी) is a common surname amongst the Konkani speaking Goud Saraswat Brahmins and Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins in India.

Etymology

The original word is Shrenipati or the leader of the guild, which got converted as Shennivayi in Apabhraṃśa, and later as Shenai or Shenvi in old Konkani.

Background and origins

The Goud Saraswat Brahmins are from Goa, India and are originally part of the larger Saraswat community of north. Saraswat Brahmins used to live on the banks of the river Saraswati during ancient times . After the river got extinct some migrated towards south and since then settled in Goa. The Shenoys were generally involved in administration of the city. The word "Shenoy" itself means a writer. GSBs were administrators of the temples. The word "Shenoy" is also interchangeable with its Sanskrit counterpart Shanbhag or Shanbhogue which means clerk.

The Saraswats migrated from Goa during the Muslim and Christian conquests during 1600, and carried their surname with them . Thus the word 'शणै' is transliterated in Latin script as Shenoy in Karnataka, as Shenoi in Kerala, and as Xennai, Shenai or even Sinai in Goa. "Xennoi" was used in the erstwhile Portuguese territory of Goa but has given way to "Xennai" today. Another possible origin of the surname Shenoy is from the word "Shennvi" meaning ninety six. This denotes the ninety six families of Saraswat Brahmins who initially settled in Goa.