The Origin of Naagar Surnames Every surname has a definite origin and a deep meaning attached to it. Below are given some of the well known Naagar Surnames with their history and origin. Although the information has been taken from very reliable sources and could be treated as authentic, but history is too vast and hence permits flaws to creep in. Nonetheless, the information provided is definitely very near to the truth
- Avashiya : There was a place called Pratapgadh in Rajasthan which later on came to be known as Avasgadh. The native Naagars of this place came to be called the ‘Avashiyas’. This surname is more prevalent in Kutch and Junagadh.
- Anjariya : The Avashiyas living in Anjar (Kutch) came to be called the ‘Anjariyas’. This surname is prevalent in Kutch.
- Antani : This surname originates from the name ‘Anant’ who was the main oerson of a Vadnagra Naagar family. This surname is prevalent in Kutch.
- Oza : This surname was erstwhile known as ‘Vadhedya’. Its Veda was the ‘Atharvaveda’. The people having this surname were well versed in the Mantras and were scholarly right from the begining. These characteristics gave them their present surname: Oza.
- Kharod : Kharod is a place in the ‘Amdavad’ district. The Naagars residing here accepted the surname ‘Kharod’.
- Ghodadra : There is a place called Ghodadra in Saurastra. It is assumed that the people residing here had the surname of Ghoda or Ghodadra.
- Chhaya : It is believed that in 1725 A.D. many Naagars came to a place called Chhaya in Porbandar and started serving in this new kingdom. They were hence given the surname: ‘Chhaya’.
- Jatthal : The members of the ‘Juthal’ family of Mangrol came to be known as the ‘Jatthals’.
- Joshipura : There is a village called ‘Joshipara’ in Marwa. It is believed that the Naagars residing in Joshipara came to be known as the Joshipuras.
- Nanavati : The Naagars dealing in money matters (Money is also called Nana in Gujarati) were called the Nanavatis.
- Mankad : This surname owes its origin to the name of Sage Markanda.
- Vasavada : The Nagars hailing from Vasavad village in Saurashtra came to be called the Vasavadas.
- Yagnik / Jani : This surname belongs to Vishnagar Naagar Kulvan / Gruhsth family.
Few of them we could not find out the details
Some names are derived from Geographical names
Dhebar from Dhebarwada
Hathi from Hathap
Kukasia (now Vaishnav) from Kakasia
Mahudhia from Mahudha
Mankodi from Mankodivada
Pattani from Patan
Rana from Ranavav
Unakar from Una
Veravala (also known as Vaishnav) from Veraval.
Some names are derived from Family Ancestry
Antani
Anantani
Bavani
Bhayani
Kikani
Maknani
Premapuri
Rindani
Savani and
Vachhchharajani
Some names are titled and awared by Rajput and Muslim rulers (Ruled gujrat for about eight centuries)
Baxi
Bhagat
Desai
Divan
Durkal
Hazrat
Janita
Jathhal
Jha
Kazi
Majmudar
Mazumdar
Medh
Munshi
Parghi
Pota
Saiyad
and Swadia
Some other names (Based on profession)
Acharya
Buch
Druv
Jikar
Mehta
Nanavati
Pandit
Purohit and
Vaidya.
Some other names
Bhatt, Dave, Divetia, Dixit, Dholakia, Dwivedi, Jha, Jhala, Joshi, Kachchhi, Maru, Maharaja, Oza , Pancholi, Pathakji, Raval, Shukla, Tripathi, Trivedi, Vora and Vyas