Gujjar
/ˈɡʊdʒər/noun
A member of a South Asian ethnic group historically associated with pastoralism, agriculture, and regions including India and Pakistan.
Did you know?The name Gujarat is generally traced to Gurjaratra, meaning “land of the Gurjaras,” although the deeper origin and original meaning of Gurjara remain disputed.
Etymological Timeline
6th Century CE
Sanskrit
Gurjara
“The earliest widely recognized form, appearing in early medieval Indian inscriptions and texts as an ethnic or political name.”
7th–8th Century CE
Sanskrit
Gurjaratra
“A regional name interpreted as “land or realm of the Gurjaras.””
Medieval Period
Prakrit/Apabhramsha
Gujjara
“A vernacular development of Gurjara, used for the community name in northwestern South Asia.”
Medieval Period
Persian and regional languages
Gujar / Gujjar
“Forms used in administrative, historical, and ethnographic writing for the community.”
Modern English
English
Gujjar
“The conventional English spelling for a South Asian ethnic community, with Gurjar also used as a variant.”