Barua - in Assam Valley

In Assam Valley

Originally the title was conferred for most of class of officers in the Ahom kingdom of medieval Assam. The Ahom appointed officers with various title and the title Baruah means a " Leader of 3000 men".

The Baruas / Baruahs / Barooahs of Assam are Hindus by faith and have been a key contributors to the growth of Assamese community. Barua/hs or Barooahs especially of Upper - Assam (esp., Jorhat belt) and also to an extent in Western Assam and Middle/Central-Assam are generally Assamese Brahmins (people having or carrying specific Gotras i.e., proper Brahmin Identity Surnames) or may even be Kayastha representing General Caste. Others would essentially be Ahoms or Kalitas. Most of the Brahmin Baruas would carry middle name/surname such as, Ram, Prasad, Ranjan, Krishnakant, Govind, Chandra amongst others. (See, Assamese Brahmins ) However, it is also common to see other Baruas (non-Brahmins) carrying similar or even the same middle name/surname who would obviously be Hindus but may be Ahoms - (descendants of Ahom Community) or Kalitas as generally referred in Assam, who worship saints of Assamese community such as; Shankar Dev rather engaging themselves in idol worship.