The surname was an honorary title bestowed on persons who were relied upon for the work of accounts, receipts and expenditure.
[1] The word Biswas means faith or trust in Bengali.
[2] The surname 'Biswas' is not tied to any specific religion or caste, as it is used by both "Hindus, including Brahmins, and Muslims alike".
[1] Among Bengali Hindus, the surname is notably associated with various castes, including Forward castes like Kayasthas,[3][4] Mahishyas[5][6] and Brahmins[1][7] as well as Scheduled Castes like Poundras and Namasudras.
The surname is also found among Bengali Muslims and Bengali Christians.