Awan (tribe)

Awan
اعوان
EthnicityPunjabi (incl. Hindkowans)
LocationPunjab, Sindh and Azad Kashmir
LanguageHindko, Punjabi, Urdu
ReligionIslam

Awan (Punjabi and Urdu: اعوان) is a Punjabi Muslim tribe and surname[1][2] originating from the Punjab region of Pakistan. Awans are predominantly present in the northern, central, and western parts of Punjab, with significant population also present in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, and to a lesser extent, in Sindh and Balochistan. They claim to be descendants of the Qutub Shah who came to the region with Mahmud of Ghazni.[3]

  1. ^ Hanks, Patrick; Lenarčič, Simon; McClure, Peter (30 November 2022), "Awan", Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acref/9780190245115.001.0001, ISBN 978-0-19-024511-5
  2. ^ Tan, Tai Yong (2005). The Garrison State: The Military, Government and Society in Colonial Punjab 1849–1947. Sage. pp. 61–62. ISBN 978-0-7619-3336-6.
  3. ^ Sarwar, Malik Muhammad (1996). "Archaeological Remains in Son Sakesar (Salt Range)". Journal of Central Asia. XIX. Centre for the Study of the Civilizations of Central Asia, Quaid-i-Azam University: 150–169. ISSN 1016-0701. OCLC 655897382. Before the arrival of Awan tribes, the valley was a part of the state under the rule of Janjua Rajputs. They were forcibly ousted by the Awans. The Awans claim that their ancestor, Qutb Shah came along with the army of Sultan Mahmood of Ghazna in the 10th century. He headed some troops of Alavids who had been given the title of Awans by the Sultan.