Nijhawan

Nijhawan is a surname of Indian origin. It is most commonly associated with Punjabi Hindu and Sikh communities and is found among people across North India and in the Indian diaspora. In some regions the name is linked with Khatri and Arora lineages, though distribution varies and different families may trace their ancestry to different regional roots.

The exact etymology of Nijhawan is not consistently recorded. In many Punjabi naming traditions, surnames arose from clan affiliation, ancestral villages, or lineage markers rather than fixed occupations. As a result, Nijhawan may reflect a historical family identity that shifted across generations and geographies, with spelling and pronunciation adapting to local languages and scripts.

Bearers of the name are mainly found in Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh in India, with established communities abroad in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Gulf Cooperation Council states. Variants in spelling include Nijhawan, Nijhavan, and other transliterations.

Cultural usage: The surname is used by both Hindus and Sikhs; it does not denote a current caste position but rather family heritage in contemporary contexts.