Which caste is Bhumihar Brahmin?

Bhumihars, also called Babhan, are a Hindu caste mainly found in Bihar (including the Mithila region), the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh, and Nepal. The Bhumihars claim Brahmin status, and are also referred to as Bhumihar Brahmin.

Which caste is most in Bihar?

Castes and ethnic groups

Castes of Bihar
Caste	Population (\%)	Notes
Forward caste	18\%	Five upper-castes – Brahmin-5\%,Bhumihar-6\% Rajput- 6\% Kayasthas -1\% constitute around 18\% of state population.
(STs)	1.3\%
Others	0.4\%	Includes Christians, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists

Are Bhumihars Brahmins?

Bhumihars are not Brahmins, and they have no historical evidence to back up their claims. Actually evidence shows they were never Brahmins. I believe they, as a caste, have been trying to upcaste themselves to the Brahmin caste. Such efforts are not unknown across India. Physically Bhumihars have more in common with Rajputs and Brahmins.

What is the origin of the Bhumihar caste?

The other popular narratives about their origin is that they belonged to a low caste tribe called “Bhuyans” who gained land and proverted themselves as Brahmins when faced unequal treatment at the hands of sacerdotal authorities. A class of Bhumihar also claim descent from Rati Raut, a gwala ( cowherd) who ruled Rati pargana in the north Bihar.

What are the common Brahmin surnames in India?

Other common traditional Brahmin surnames used by the Bhumihars include Mishra, Dikshit, Tivan, Pathak, Pande and Upadhyaya. It is also common for Bhumihars to affix Singh (usually identified with Kshatriyas, especially Rajputs) to their name.

What is the origin of the term ‘Brahmin’?

The term Bhumihar Brahmin was adopted by the community in the late-19th century to emphasise their claim of belonging to the priestly Brahmin class. The alternate name “Babhan” has been described as a distorted colloquial term for “Brahmin”.