Maitreya is the name of a sage lineage whose designation derives from the Sanskrit maitri, meaning friendship, loving-kindness, or benevolence. In the epic and Puranic literature, a sage Maitreya appears as a disciple of Parashara and as an interlocutor in several important dialogues, including portions of the Mahabharata and the Vishnu Purana. The future Buddha Maitreya of Buddhist tradition is a different figure, though the shared name reflects the common cultural valuation of maitri.
The Maitreya gotra is relatively less widespread than the primary Saptarishi lineages but is recognized in traditional gotra lists. It carries the spiritual ideal of friendliness and compassion that its name embodies, and families belonging to it maintain the memory of a sage associated with the transmission of Purana and dharmic knowledge.
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From Sanskrit "maitri" (friendship/loving-kindness) - name of a sage lineage.
No. Gotra and surname are separate systems. Families with many different surnames, across many regions and communities, can share the same gotra, and families with the same surname can belong to different gotras.
Many communities traditionally avoid marriage between people of the same gotra, based on the idea that they share a common patrilineal ancestor. Exact customs vary widely by community and region.