Namaskar,
Thank you aryashakti for the information.
Please send to my e-mail address (himan_paudal@hotmail.com) information about the surname I describe:
1. Paudyal
2. Kadel
3. Dadal
4. Kanyakubja Brahmins
5. Nepali Brahmins

I want to know about varna and jati. Last information was helpful.. Also website of Brahminissm.


Dhanyabad,
Himanshu Paudal.

NAMASTEJI,
Mero nam Ramesh Paudyal ho. Mero parivar Nepali Brahmin ho. Shriji aryashakti kripaya malai Nepali Brahmin jati ko bishaya batai dinuhos. Malai Brahmin nam Paudyal ka ithihas janna chahanchu.

Dhanyavad.

Ramesh Paudyal.

Paudel is a poorbiya brahmin surname(i.e. brahmins traditionally occupying the eastern section of Nepal), versus Kandel, which is of Kumai or paschime origin. Conventionally speaking, Kumai surnames originate from Kumaon, Uttaranchal, and as such, most names(if not all) that Kumai bahuns have can be found in the Uttaranchal area. This is not so for most purbiya surnames, although exceptions exist. For example, Paudel, even though it is traditionally an Upadhya bahun surname, is a surname that is quite commong among Uttaranchalis. So is also the case for Pokharels, who are also Upadhya brahmins. I surmise that Paudels and Pokharels found in the hilly regions of North-Western India are basically Upadhya bahuns of Nepali origin who settled there when Nepalis ruled the territories in question.
However, note this point. Many Kumaonis are of South Indian origin. You might want to visit websites dedicated to Uttaranchal culture, if you would like to learn more about last-names like Kadel, for instance. There are two major division of brahmins in Uttaranchal: 1) of Khas origin and 2) of mostly South Indian origin. There are also some surnames that originate from the Kashmir area, and of course some of Punjabi origin, although these are quite rare. Regarding the Khas, these were people of indo-european origin( although, by no means ARYAN, which refers to a certain group of people, specifically Punjabis. Take note that many opine that Kashmiri brahmins aren't of Aryan origin either), who occupied region from all the way to Southern Kashmir to North-Western Nepal. Also, let me mention that Nepali has traditionally been called Khaskura, aka language of the Khasas, aka language of Upadhya brahmins, in essence. So, in essence, what I think is that Upadhya brahmins are of Khasa origin, and indigenous to Nepal, versus Kumaos, who are more of Indian origin. Now, Pahadi dialects are divided into three principle origins: 1) Western(Southern Kashmir/Himachal Pradesh) 2) Central(Uttaranchal in essence) and 3) Eastern, which is basically Nepali. Curiously, some people are of the opinion that Nepali has similitaries to Gujarati languages. It's quite amusing. You may be familiar with Gujjars, a nomadic tribe of people, who wander around in the NWFP-Kashmir-Himachal-Uttaranchal area. I wonder whether they have any links to Gujaratis. Now Gujjars by no means look like your stereotypical Indians. They in fact look more like Afghans, many of whom in fact have reddish beard(without the dye, that is). I don't know what to make out of this, though.
Then again, there is another theory that many Brahmin Peshwas from Maharastra fled to Nepal during wars with Muslims. These Peswhas are called Kokanastha brahmins, who can actually be traced to Afghanistan. Many of these actresses like Madhuri Dixit, Aditi Gowitrikar, etc are of Kokanastha origin, and are almost of white hue, in terms of skin color. Many of them, because of their blue/green eyes are disparagingly referred to as "cobras" by the more darker people of other origins.

This is all I have been able to figure out as of yet. Of course, my theories might have innumerable inaccuracies.

Pleased to assist you,
Himanshu paudalji,
Brahmins originally were one varna of Hindu society. In the C10th divisions (jati) had originated based upon areas of subsequent habitation. As Brahmins were resident in numerous towns & villages later divisions were based upon these criteria. Hence the present situation. Most Brahmins are defined by:
1. Varna (eg Brahmin), caste
2. Jati (eg Kanyakubj), area of ancestral residence
3. Gotra (eg Vashisth), patrilineal ancestor who was a Vedic rishi)
4. Gan-jati (eg Jajhotiya; subdivision of Kanyakubj Brahmins), region of later ancestral habitation
5. Gan-gotra (eg Parasuramaiya gotra cf Bhrigu), name of ancestral rishi descended from Vedic rishi
6. Maithil Brahmins have 2 further divisions:
a. Mul (village of original ancestral settlement)
b. Diba (villages of subsequent settlement)

Useful websites:
www.gsbkerala.com
www.geocities.com/bhumiharsamaj/bhumihar_bs.html
www.maithilsonline.com
www.rajan.com




Ramesh Paudyalji,
The name Paudyal is from the Purbi Brahmin jati ( from northeast Hindustan) and pertain to the Atreya gotra.




thugged out. This is excellent information. I am a Kanyakubj Brahmin from the Terai area and very involved in the geneology of Brahmin society. All Brahmins originate from either the Saraswat Brahmins (Punjab) or the Bhumihar Brahmins (Gandhara). In Nepal the following Brahmin jati are found:
Kumai (Kumaoni), Kanyakubj, Maithil, Purbi, Upadhyaya, Jayci
The jatis Kanyakubj and Maithil originate from the Saraswat Brahmins whereas the Kumai Brahmins originate from Bhumihar Brahmins. Could you please clarify as to the origins of Upadhyaya, Jayci and Purbi Brahmins.l

Hey thugged out/aryashakti please help! These are interesting theories. I have always wondered about the caste of my great-grandmothers family whose surname was Dadal. I cannot find any websites about it. I know they are from east Nepal. I would like to have more informations.

Rajoojee,
it is difficult if not impossible to define the varna & jati according to surname; some surnames are found in many communities. For example in Nepal Kadel is a Brahmin name but in Afghanistan it is a Pathan name. The name Regmi is found in Brahmin and Shatri varna. Maybe thugged out may know to which varna/jati Dadal belongs. Or maybe someone with this name will be kind enough to leave a posting.

Is it true that the brahmin surnnames ending with "L", I mean La letter of Devnagari, are the most dangerous ones. e.g., dhital, dahal, etc....

Rajoo, I have never heard of the surname dadal before. However, when I searched for it, it seems that there is a place called Dadal in Jammu-Kashmir area. Perhaps that's where he originated from??

I am busy currently, I'll write more in a few days.