KP Surnames

[Mediaman]

By B. K. Raina (brijk...@yahoo.com)

Amongst the many attributes of Kashmiri Pandits are their
characteristic surnames, which have been supplanted, rather
permanently, from erstwhile nicknames. For such a tiny ethnic group it
is amazing to have such a wide and contrasting spectrum of surnames.
The very diversity of such family names in a way also reflects upon
the intrinsic ingenuity of our forefathers who were apparently
responsible for creation of such names. Above all it also reflects a
streak of malicious humor, well entrenched in the Kashmiri psyche even
now. Such a diversity of nicknames also compares closely with our
Kashmiri Muslim brethren.

For many years past my interest was generated in documenting and
listing the Kashmiri Pandit surnames for its sheer fascinating
variety. How such nicknames got stuck with individual families is a
difficult task for research and a subject in itself. Given the very
distinctive and diverse connotation of such surnames, it is but
natural that many of my predecessors must have been equally engaged in
its compilation from time to time. I too have attempted in documenting
the same and the list has grown into a figure of 400 plus. The
emphasis, however, has been to classify these under varied categories
like those of vegetables, flowers, fruits, cereals, utensils, animals,
birds, state of mind or body, profession, place names, etc. However, a
large number of nicknames still remain to be properly classified for
lack of their exact meaning and are, therefore, clubbed under ??
Miscellaneous?? category. Some of the surnames may have still been
left out inadvertently which the readers could contribute to make the
list more up to date.

While I have enjoyed compiling our surnames over a period of time, I
hope the readers would equally enjoy going through it.
Surnames based on:

Vegetables
Hak, Kangich, Muj (Mujoo) Nadir, Wangan (Wangnoo)
Flowers/trees/garden
Bagh, Boon (Boni), Chaman, Jafir, Posh, Puship,, Zaifrani

Fruits
Alich, Badam, Bamtsunt, Glass (Cherry), Meva, Pambuchh, Tang, Tul
Cereals
Channa, Kanna, Makai, Moong (Monga), Muth (Muthoo)
Other Edibles
Anima, Batta, Damni, Namak, Noon, Pakmund, Watt, Wugra (Ogra)

Spices
Badian, Mirchwangan, Shonth
Utensils etc.
Anit, Bohgan, Choncha, Dul (Dulloo), Kenz, Khasu, Kretch, Krund
(Krundu/Kundu), Masaldan, Parwa,, Pyala, Shup, Taku, Tsong, Wakhul
(Wakhloo)

Stationery
Kagaz, Kalamdan, Parcha
Other Articles
Aichkan, Bilcha, Loong, Magazine, Mohil, Moza, Parmana, Pattoo, Pulhor
(Pulharu), Renta, Saban, Tsangij

Sounds
Bishta, Chirev (Chirvoo), Duf, Thapthap, Thas, Thus (Thussu), Wufa

State of Mind/Body etc.
Adkal, Bradu, Chattoo, Gorekh, Jatta, Kaboo, Kachroo, Kalloo, Khosa,
Khoshu, Madan, Mat, Mattoo, Mushran, Nees, Nassi, Pahalwan, Safaya,
Shoda, Shorabi, Taploo, Thapal, Trakru, Tchapal, Vashnev

Disabled or Afflicted
Chanta, Gigu (Gigoo), Kanchet, Karihul (Karihaloo), Kharu (Kharoo),
Khenkh, Leng (Langoo), Muku, Shongal (Shungloo), Tramboo, Tunda, Tutu,
Wen(Wangu)

Diseases
Chareg, Charagbeg, Zaharbad
Animals
Brer (Braru), Dhand, Gagar, Hangal (Hangloo), Hapat, Hastu, Heswal,
Jawansher, Kachwa, Kath, Khacher, Khar (Kher), Padar, Pannz (Panzoo),
Pash (Pashu), Shall, Sher, Wandur, Woont (Oont)

Birds
Bilbichru, Bulbul, Cherbacha, Janwar, Kaw, Kantroo, Kakav, Kokroo,
Koltoonch, Kotru, Kukil (Kokiloo), Pachhan, Shoga, Tota, Tchinhangar

Insects etc.
Bambroo, Bumsin, Gad (Fish), Kem (Kemmu), Machha, Zallar

Slang
Bokut, Chobar, Gaan, Kuchir (Kuchroo), Layuk, Ledh, Mandal, Tengloo,
Tukra, Want

Common Surnames
Bhan, Bhat, Dhar, Ganjoo (Ganju), Koul/Kaul, Pandit, Pandita, Raina,
Razdan, Tikoo/Tiku, Zutshi

After Places
Arigami, Babdemb, Beru, Chandpuri, Chhatabali, Doda, Draboo, Hali,
Hanjura, Kakapori, Kandhari, Khardori, Kilam, Lahoori, Lalpori,
Mahanoori, Marhatta, Parimoo, Punjabi, Purib, Qasba, Sathu, Seru,
Shivpori, Sumbli, Sopori, Thatoo, Troprei, Tsrer, Turki, Vesu, Zalpori

After Profession etc.
Adalti, Aima, Akhoon, Atil (Atal), Bagati, Barbuz, Bazaz, Chowdhary,
Daftari, Dalal, Dandar (Dandroo), Darbari, Darmarthi, Gaddu, Ganz,
Garisaz, Garyali, Goor (Guru), Gosain (Gosani), Hakim, Jailkhani,
Jangi, Jyotshi, Kabadi, Kander (Kandroo), Kannungo (Quanoongo), Kazi
(Qazi), Karwani, Kashkari, Khar, Kharwal, Khazanchi, Kotha, Kothdar,
Kotwal, Lalla, Machama, Mahaldar, Malla, Mallik, Marakban, Menzar,
Munshi, Nageb, Naqaib, Nagri, Nagari, Nalka, Nanwai, Navid, Patwalli,
Panyech, Pariyer, Patwer (Patwari), Peer, Qazi, Raida, Rangar
(Rangroo), Rawal, Razgari, Reyazi, Sadhu, Saraf, Sardar, Shair,
Shakdar, Shali, Sonar, Tabardar, Tangwel, Tarwel (Tarwali), Teli,
Thalchoor, Tilwen, Toshkhani, Tsur (Tchur), Vakil, Wattal, Waza,
Wazir, Zer (Zaroo)

Miscellaneous
Agha, Ambardar, Babu, Badshah, Bakaya, Bakshi, Bali, Bamzai, Bangroo,
Bhandari, Bibi, Bindroo (Bindru), Buj (Buju), Bushan, Chagtu,
Chakbast, Chaku, Challu (Challoo), Chatta, Checha, Chrungoo (Chrungu),
Dass, Dassi, Datt, Deemb, Drabu (Draboo), Duda, Durrani, Fotedar,
Gadroo, Garoo, Garyali, Gheeru, Ghaid, Goja, Guris, Gurtu, Hakku,
Haksar, Handoo, Hangar, Hafiz, Happa, Harkar, Hashia, Jad, Jagyasoo,
Jalali, Jan, Janda, Jattu, Jinsi, Kadalbuju, Kak, Kakar, Kalla,
Kampassi, Kannaw, Kaptan, Kar, Katal, Katju, Kenu, Khabri, Khah,
Khoda, Khodai, Khodbali, Kis (Kissu),Kisroo, Kitchlu (Kitchloo),
Kohistani, Kuchhey, Kunzru, Labroo, Langar, Lidhoo/Lidoo, Mam,
Manvati, Mantoo, Mawa, Mazari, Mirakhur, Mirza, Miskeen, Misri, Miya,
Mogul, Mukroo, Nar, Naru, Narayan, Naz, Nehru, Nizam, Oakhan, Pajnoo
(Pajan), Pandoh, Peshin, Potass, Pottar, Rafiz, Raghu, Rajput, Rambal,
Rayu, Reshi, Revu (Revoo), Sahib, Salman, Sapru (Saproo), Sar, Sas,
Sazawal, Sharma, Shashoo/Shishu, Shongar, Sidha, Siboo, Sultan, Suman,
Swaroop, Tak,Talashi, Tankhah, Tarozhar, Teng, Thassu, Thathu, Tikil,
Trisal (Trichal), Tufchi, Tutoo, Vainkhana, Vaas, Vuthu (Wuthu),
Wachu, Wali, Wanchoo, Warikoo, Yechh, Zadoo

The author is a retired Director from Geological Survey of India.