Caste

The Yadav (Ahir) community is one of the most widespread communities in India, and while "Yadav" is the most common pan-India surname adopted today, the community uses a wide variety of surnames, titles, and clan names depending on the region.

Here is a state-wise list of surnames and titles used by the Yadav/Ahir community.

1. North India

In the Hindi heartland, the community is historically known as Ahir, but "Yadav" is the standard surname.

• Uttar Pradesh & Bihar

  • Common Surnames: Yadav, Ahir, Rai, Singh, Chaudhry (Choudhary).

  • Regional/Traditional Titles:

    • Mandal: Common in Bihar (implies a headman/landowner).

    • Raut: Common in Eastern UP and Bihar.

    • Gope / Gop: Derived from "Gopala" (cowherd), common in rural areas.

    • Mahakul: Used largely in Bihar.

    • Ghosi: A specific clan/sub-caste often using this as a surname.

    • Krishnaut / Majhraut: Sub-caste names sometimes used as identifiers.

    • Dadhor / Gwal: Historical clan titles.

• Haryana, Delhi & Rajasthan (Ahirwal Region)

  • Common Surnames: Yadav, Ahir.

  • Titles:

    • Rao / Rao Sahab: A very prestigious title used by Ahirs in the "Ahirwal" belt (Rewari, Mahendragarh, Alwar).

    • Chaudhry: Used as a title of respect for landowners.

  • Clan Surnames (Gotras often used as surnames):

    • Aphariya (Afria), Kausaliya, Khoshya, Niganiya, Solanki, Jajra.

2. West India

In Western India, the community often retains distinct clan names and historical titles associated with the ruling dynasties (like the Chudasamas).

• Gujarat

  • Community Name: Ahir (often divided into Sorathia, Masariya, Paratharia, etc.).

  • Surnames:

    • Ahir: Used as a surname itself.

    • Jadav / Yadav: Variations of the standard name.

    • Bodar: A prominent Ahir surname.

    • Chudasama: A royal clan surname (historically connected to Junagadh).

    • Chavda, Varu, Madam, Dangar, Solanki.

    • Bharwad / Rabari: While distinct pastoral communities, they share cultural lineage with the broader Yadava group in local contexts.

• Maharashtra

  • Community Name: Gavli, Ahir, Yadav, Jadhav.

  • Surnames:

    • Jadhav: The Maratha/Marathi variant of Yadav.

    • Gavli / Gawli: Literally means "cowherd/milkman."

    • Ahir / Ahire: Indicates the Ahir lineage.

    • Dhangar: A distinct shepherd community in Maharashtra that often associates with the Yadava lineage (Holkars were Dhangars).

    • More, Shelar, Shirke: Maratha clan names that are also found within Yadav lineages.

3. East India

In Bengal and Odisha, the community is often referred to as Sadgop or Gauḍa.

• West Bengal

  • Community Name: Sadgop, Goala, Yadav.

  • Surnames:

    • Ghosh: The most common surname for the Yadav/Sadgop community in Bengal.

    • Pal / Paul: Used by the Sadgop section (landowning Yadavs).

    • Gope: Traditional title.

    • Mandal: Used by landowning families.

    • Konar: Found in some pockets (linked to the Konar of the south).

• Odisha

  • Community Name: Gouda, Gopal.

  • Surnames:

    • Gouda / Gauda: The primary surname.

    • Behera: A very common title for the headman, used as a surname.

    • Pradhan: Title for a chief/leader.

    • Das: General surname sometimes used by the community.

    • Mahakud: Equivalent to Mahakul in Bihar.

4. Central India

• Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh

  • Surnames: Yadav, Ahir, Gwal.

  • Titles:

    • Thethwar: A specific community name/surname in Chhattisgarh.

    • Dau: A title of respect used in Bundelkhand.

    • Rawat: Used in various districts.

    • Patel: Used by landowning Yadavs in MP.

5. South India

In the South, the names are linguistically different (derived from Golla or Konar), but they identify with the Yadava lineage (Krishna).

• Andhra Pradesh & Telangana

  • Community Name: Golla, Yadava.

  • Surnames:

    • Yadav: Widely adopted now.

    • Golla: The traditional caste name.

    • Konar: Sometimes used near the Tamil border.

    • Note: Many use their village name as a surname (Intiperu) followed by the title Yadav or Golla.

• Tamil Nadu

  • Community Name: Konar, Idayar, Ayar.

  • Surnames:

    • Konar: The standard title/surname (meaning King/Chief).

    • Pillai: Specific sub-groups of Idayars use Pillai (though Pillai is used by other castes too).

    • Servai: Used by some sub-sections.

    • Yadav: Used increasingly in urban areas.

    • Gounder: Used by cattle-rearing groups in Western TN (Kongu region), though distinct from the Kongu Vellalar Gounders.

• Karnataka

  • Community Name: Golla, Kuruba (Shepherd community, often linked to Yadav lineage).

  • Surnames:

    • Gowda: Sometimes used (though Gowda is a general title for Vokkaligas too).

    • Naik / Nayaka: Used by Bedar/Valmiki groups associated with the lineage.

    • Yadav: Standard modern surname.