Surnames in Naagars

According to the esteemed Nagar writer, Shri Shambuprasad Desai, Naagar surnames gained popularity during the British rule. In the past, individuals were primarily identified by their Gautra or common surnames such as Mehta or Pandya. The evolution of the social structure over the past few centuries has influenced the adoption of a variety of surnames within our community. It is believed that there were once over 160 Nagar surnames in existence, with approximately 80 currently in use.

These surnames can be classified in the following manner:

1. Derived from Geographical (Village or City) Names: There are eighteen surnames that are derived from village names, such as Anjaria from Anjar, Avasia from Avasgadh, and Chhaya from Chhaya. Major Naagar groups (Naati) have also been derived in a similar manner, like Vadnagara from Vadnagar and Visnagara from Visnagar.

2. Derived from Family Ancestry: Approximately ten surnames are based on ancestry, including Antani & Anantani, Bavani, and Bhayani.

3. Derived from Titles Awarded by Rajput and Muslim Rulers: Nagars held prominent positions during the rule of Rajput and Muslim rulers in Gujarat for about eight centuries, resulting in the awarding of titles. Twenty surnames, such as Baxi, Desai, and Kazi, were derived from these titles.

4. Derived from Professional Titles: Many Nagars are professionals, and their surnames often reflect their respective professions. Surnames like Acharya, Mehta, and Pandit were derived from the professions in which they were engaged.

Additional Surnames:

Various regions in Gujarat boast a multitude of surnames that are unique to their respective areas. From Kachchh, notable surnames include Kachchhi, Maru, Oza, and Jhala, while Kathiawad is known for surnames such as Dholakia, Pancholi, and Jha. Surnames like Bhatt, Dave, Divetia, Dwivedi, Dixit, Joshi, Maharaja, Pathakji, Raval, Shukla, Tripathi, Trivedi, Vora, and Vyas are commonly found throughout Gujarat. If you have any insights into the origins of these surnames, we would greatly appreciate your input.

Overall, the development of Naagar surnames reflects the rich history and diverse influences within our community.