History
A Jatclan name or Gotra of Jats from Punjab, India and Pakistan. Ant is a Gotra of the AnjanaJats in Gujarat. Members of the clan were originally based in villages in northwest India. They are found in Gujarat where they call themselves as Ant. Due to mobility of population in the form of migration and emigration during the 20th century, members of the clan can be found all over the world, including in the the United Kingdom, the U.S.A. and Canada. Originating villages are Shankar and Hakim Pur, in the Doaba region of Punjab. They are Sikh Jats. They inhabited the Ambala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Patiala districts of the Punjab, some settling as far west as Sialkot, Multan, Jhang, Montgomery, Muzaffargarh and Bahawalpur in West Punjab, what is now Pakistan. After settling in West Punjab, many Atwal Jats converted to Islam although most Atwals in India are Sikhs. Atwals are also found in large numbers in Amritsar and Gurdaspur.
As per H.A. Rose considers Atwals to be descendants of the Panwar and that they came to East Punjab from Multan. Jats, Khatris, Rajputs and Dalits have a common background and Atwal is a well-known and ancient sub-caste of Jats.
Distribution in Punjab
Villages in Patiala district
Athwal population is 1,542 in Patiala district.
Villages in Amritsar district
Athwal population is 2,067 in Amritsar district.
Villages in Jalandhar district
According to B S Dhillon the population of Athwal clan in Jalandhar district is 6,300.
Villages in Hoshiarpur district
PandoriAtwalan,
In Hoshiarpur district the Athwal population is 708.
Villages in Gurdaspur district
Athwal (Dera Baba Nanak tahsil),
In Gurdaspur district the Athwal population is 1,791.
Distribution in Himachal Pradesh
Villages in Kangra district
GhurkariKhas,
Distribution in Pakistan
The Muslim Atwal were found mainly in Jalandhar, Amritsar and Kapurthala districts of East Punjab. Like other Jat clans, they migrated to Pakistan on the partition of India. They are now found mainly in Faisalabad, Sahiwal and Toba Tek Singh Districts
References :-
- Jats the Ancient Rulers (A clan study.)/Jat Clan in India,p. 244-45