how many gotras are there among hindus?what are their names?is Sharma the gotra of Mishra or vice versa?

Question

the surname as per my knowledge is a sub caste in hindus. the main caste is the gotra of a person i.e. descendency of hindu sages, such as atri, vaishist, etc.

Answer 1

A gotra is the lineage or clan assigned to a Hindu at birth. In most cases, the system is patrilineal and the gotra assigned is the gotra of the person's father. Other names used to refer to it are Vansh, Vanshaj, Bedagu, Purvik, Purvajan, Pitru. An individual may decided to identify his lineage by a different gotra, or combination of gotras. For example Lord Rama was Surya Vansh , also known as Raghu Vansh. This was because Lord Rama's great-grandfather Raghu became famous.

List of gotras compounded by caste are as follows:

Brahmins
vysyas
Khatris
Nairs
Rajputs
Jats
Kongu Vellala Gounder's
Tuluva/Malayalees

Refer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_gotras for a list

Answer 2

Hindu Gotra List

Answer 3

There are eight main Gotras (subdivided into 49) that are descendants (family or spiritual descendants) of the seven rishis said to be sons of Brahma & Agastya Rishi who is also priviledged with starting a lineage. The saptarishis are Gautama, Bhardwaja, Vishwamitra, Jamadagni, Vasistha, Kashyapa and Atri

Answer 4

Same gotra means same family. The boy n girl if belong to same gotra are treated as real brother ans sister. The marriage of real brother and sister is not allowed in Hindus as it causes some genetic problems in the child.

Answer 5

The concept of Gotra was the first attempt among Brahmans to classify themselves among different groups. At the beginning, these gentes identified themselves by the names of eight rishis (Atri, Bharadwaja, Gautam, Jamadagni, Kashyapa, Vasishtha, Vishwamitra, and Agastya or Bhrigu; the first seven of these are often enumerated as Saptarishis). It is to be noted that Vishwamitra was initially a Kshatriya king, who later chose and rose to become an ascetic rishi. Hence the gotra was applied to the grouping stemming from one of these rishis as his descendants.
Sharma or Mishra, is not Gothra. It denotes, he is a Brahman

Answer 6

There are different types of gotras followed at different localities (states). Apart from that titles explain the castes only. Gotra's are as per our ancestors. The titles are as per the rulers of kings in some areas. But gotra's can not be changed.