Hatwal
| Hatwal (हटवाल) | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Brahmin, Rajput |
| Religions |
 |
| Languages | Garhwali, Hindi |
| Populated states | India |
| Related groups | • Garhwali people |
Hatwal (Garhwali/Hindi: हटवाल) is a Garhwali brahmin family name from the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. The Hatwals were primarily a priestly class who served as pandits at the many Hindu temples in the Himalayan Kingdom of Garhwal, including Badrinath which is part of the auspicious Hindu pilgrimage circuit of Char Dham.
The Hatwals are descended from Rishi Bharadwaja and belong to the Bharadwaj gotra.
Etymology and use
The origin of the surname Hatwal is from Hat wale (a person from a village called Haat). Most of the inhabitants of Hat, now in Garhwal, Uttarakhand were called Hatwals.
Origin
The Hatwals are Sarola Brahmins from Garhwal who first migrated to the hills of present-day Uttarakhand from the plains of north-western India around the 13th century.[1][2]
Geographical distribution
As of 2014, 97.1% of all known bearers of the surname Hatwal were residents of India. The frequency of the surname was higher than national average in the following states and union territories: [3]
- 1. Uttarakhand (1: 31,615)
- 2. Delhi (1: 144,424)
- 3. Chandigarh (1: 263,672)
- 4. Telangana (1: 820,622)