Punjabi Communities
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The list
Jatts — Warrior & Farmer in one. Began settling in agricultural life around the 16th century.
Some Jatt clans are: Waraich, Sandhu, Dhillon, Bajwa. Cheema etc.
Punjabi Rajputs (Rajay, Ranay, Rai) — Took the Rajput titles, either due to high militarisation of the clan, or given, in exchange for imperial mercantile business.
Some Punjabi Rajput clans are: Gakkhar, Khokar, Chib, Bhatti, Janjua, Kharal, etc.
Arains — A large agricultural tribe with a strong political identity & organisation.
Some Arain clans are: Mian, Meher, Rahi, Nihal.
Gujjars — Pastoralists, traditionally associated with animal husbandry. One of the last nomads.
Some Gujjar clans are: Khatana, Gorsi, Kalas, Chechi.
Awans — Agricultural tribe centred in North Punjab & surrounding areas, with a population in Urban Central Punjab as well.
Dogars — Zamindars, historically known to be apt raiders & for sporting shoulder-length long hair, wearing no Pag.
Main clans of Dogars are: Mattar, Chinna, Tagra, Mahu & Chokra.
Kambohs — Agricultural farming Biradri. Kambohs had a notable presence in aristocracy of The Mughal Empire.
Khatris/Sheikhs — A number of Khatris embraced Islam in the medieval times, usually Punjabi Muslim Khatris take ‘Sheikh’ as their surname.
Some other surnames (clan-names) used are Sethi, Nayyar, Bajaj, Chawla, Uppal.
Kashmiri Origin Punjabis (Butts, Dars, Mirs, Khwajas) — Can be treated as a Biradri for they are woven in the fabric of Punjabi society & culture.
Predominately are Majails, concentrated in Urban Majha; in cities of Lahore, Gujranwala, Faislabad, Sialkot.
Arab-Persio-Turkic claimants (Syeds, Mughals, Qureshis, Chughtai etc.) — Although, some claimants certainly are legitimate; but it shouldn’t be ignored that there is a common pattern of forging lineages.
Claims be true or false, they are Punjabis to us regardless.
