Aheer

Aheer is a surname and ethnonym used by several communities in South Asia and among their diaspora. Spelling variants include Aheer and Ahir, reflecting transliteration from local languages. The term commonly designates a group historically associated with pastoral occupations.

In the Indian subcontinent, Aheer is often linked with the Ahir community, a historically pastoral people engaged in cattle herding and agriculture. Across regions such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Maharashtra, Ahirs have appeared in local histories and folklore and have played notable roles in regional affairs.

Social and political context: In modern India, Ahir/Aheer identities are recognized differently by state authorities; in several states they are included in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, while classifications vary by region and sub-group.

Diaspora and geography: The surname Aheer is found among people of South Asian origin who have migrated to the Middle East, Europe, North America, and elsewhere, where it often indicates ancestral ties to the original Indian subcontinent communities.