Sinha is a Sanskrit term which originates in the Indian subcontinent and is common in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan, covering South Asia. It comes from a Sanskrit word meaning "lion" or "brave person". Usage Indian subcontinent In India, Sinha is used as a surname by the Bengali Kayasthas (also spelt Singha), Haryanvis , Punjabis and the Kayasthas of the Hindi Belt. In Sri Lanka, the term 'Sinha' (or Siha / Sinhe / Singhe / Singha / Singho) have commonly been used by the Sinhalese (or Sinhala). When it comes to the term 'Sinhala' itself, the first part of the word, 'Sinha' stands for lion while 'la' or 'le' stands for blood, giving the meaning 'Lion's blood'. The word Simhmam (or Singam / Singham / Singhai / Singai) is the Sri Lankan Tamil derivative. In northeast India, Sinha's held high positions as advisors during the times of the Mughal Empire. In northern and middle part of India as well as southern India Sinhraj/Sinharaj/Sinharaja or Rajasinha is also used, having the meaning Lion/Leo king. The more common surname Singh in India has the same root. Jayasinghe and other surnames like 'Wijesinghe', 'Weerasingha', 'Edirisinghe', 'Singaiariyan' in Sri Lanka may also share this root. Brazil Sinha is also an unrelated name found in Brazil. "Sinhá moça" is a Brazilian colloquialism that may be translated "miss" or "missy". Notable persons with the surname Sinha Tapan Sinha, Indian film director, who worked both in Bengali and Hindi cinema Bidya Sinha Saha Mim, Bangladeshi film actress Manoj Sinha, 2nd Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Mala Sinha, Indian film actress Kaliprasanna Sinha, Bengali language author, playwright, and philanthropist Bikash Sinha, Indian scientist Lord Satyendra Prasanna Sinha, first Governor of Bihar and Orissa, first Indian Advocate-General of Bengal, first Indian to become a member of the Viceroy's executive Council and the first Indian to become a member of the British ministry Paul Sinha, British quiz player and comedian Vidya Sinha, Indian film actress Shatrughan Sinha, Indian film actor and politician Sonakshi Sinha, Indian film actress Shumona Sinha, Indian writer Surajit Chandra Sinha, Indian anthropologist Anubhav Sinha, Indian film director Anugrah Narayan Sinha, Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar P. B. Illangasinghe, Sri Lankan notary public, wrote the initial version of Sri Lankan national anthem Susanthika Jayasinghe, Sri Lankan athlete who won the Olympic silver medal for the 200m event Martin Wickramasinghe, Sri Lankan novelist who authored the