Banerjee is a common surname in India, particularly among the Bengali community. It is often associated with individuals who have roots in the state of West Bengal. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "Banerji," which means "one who is a priest or a scholar." One of the most notable figures with this surname is Abhijit Banerjee, an Indian-American economist who won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2019. He is recognized for his work on poverty alleviation and development economics, often focusing on practical solutions to improve living conditions for the poor.