Chhetri Surnames
The Chhetri are divided into many descent groups with names associated with place-names in the Karnali region or representing occupations. Some of these names are shared among Bahuns, indicating a common Khas origin among these higher castes. Examples of occupation-derived surnames are Khadka ("sword-bearer") and Kunwar ("prince"). The so-called higher caste bahun intermingled with the khas and the child born to them was denounced or degraded from bahun to chhetri. The majority chhetri living in the eastern are the results of the such intermingle. e.g. Chaulagain are bahuns but there are also chaulagain chhetri the degraded bahun. The history indicates only Six pure chhetri or Jhhara Chhetri
Certain Nepali surnames indicate a person belongs to the Chhetri caste. These names include:
- Karki (revenue officer)
- Bhandari (Store-Keepers)
- Khadka (sword-bearer)
- Bisht (baron/distinguished)
- Thapa(Officer) (Tibetan: man at the border
- Khatri (KC)
- Kunwar
- Rana
- Basnet
- Chhetri (Kshatriya)
- Gharti-Chhetri (GC)
- Baruwal
- Silwal
- Bogati (special kings messengers)
- Budhathoki
- Hamal (Chhetri Thakuri subcaste)
- Kaji
- Khatri-Chhetri(K.C.)
- Katwal
- Rawal
- Rayamajhi
- Sanjel
- Pandey
- Dangi(DC)
There is some confusion about the surname Rana. This was a self-designated surname of the former hereditary prime ministers of Nepal. The first autocratic Prime Minister of Nepal, Jang Bahadur Kunwar, changed his surname to Rana to strengthen his claim and association with Rana kings in Rajasthan, the claimed origin of his ancestors.
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