 "Datta" means "given" or "granted" in Sanskrit and is also an alternative name for the Hindu deity Dattatreya.According to Indian historian Tej Ram Sharma, in Bengal the surname Dutta/Datta (দত্ত) is used by Maulika Kayastha caste.The office of Kayastha (scribe) was instituted before the Gupta period (c.320 to 550 CE).