Nepali last name
Sunar Last Name
Sunar is a Nepali last name found among Dalit communities. Some families connect this name with Bishwokarma lineages. Spellings and traditions may vary by place and family.
Research summary
What the Sunar record currently shows
HamroBansa records Sunar as a Nepali last name. The links below bring together reviewed community classifications, gotra traditions, place associations and public family histories without treating a shared surname as proof that two people are related.
- Community classifications
- 1
- Recorded gotra links
- 0
- Place connections
- 0
- Record updated
- August 2026
Castes and communities
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A shared last name does not establish a relationship between families. Compare names, dates, places and original records before drawing conclusions. Our editorial standards explain how catalog links and citations are assessed.
Sources
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Reviewed community knowledge
Community contributions
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Community description
Sunar (also known as Sonar, Swarnkar, Soni, or similar regional variants) is a traditional artisan community found primarily in India and Nepal. The name derives from the Sanskrit suvarṇakāra (“worker in gold”). They have historically specialized as goldsmiths and jewelers who craft, repair, and sell gold and silver ornaments, and many have also engaged in moneylending, pawnbroking, gold trading, and related commerce.
While jewelry work remains a core traditional occupation for many, the community has diversified considerably into agriculture, trade, business, the professions, and other fields. In parts of northern India (especially Haryana and Punjab), members have achieved notable educational and professional success.
In Nepal, Sunars (or Sonars) are generally classified as Dalits—specifically within the broader Hill Dalit (Kami/Bishwakarma) category for some groups or among Madhesi Dalit/other caste groups for others—reflecting historical occupational and social hierarchies.
In India, their traditional varna association is most often described as Vaishya (linked to their mercantile and artisan roles involving gold), though regional and subgroup variations exist, and some sources or communities historically place them closer to Shudra status as artisans. Officially, they are listed as Other Backward Classes (OBC) in many states (including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and others), with some local or religious subgroup differences in classification. According to the Jati Bhaskar by Jwala Prasad Mishra, they are Vaishyas.
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While jewelry work remains a core traditional occupation for many, the community has diversified considerably into agriculture, trade, business, the professions, and other fields. In parts of northern India (especially Haryana and Punjab), members have achieved notable educational and professional success.
In Nepal, Sunars (or Sonars) are generally classified as Dalits—specifically within the broader Hill Dalit (Kami/Bishwakarma) category for some groups or among Madhesi Dalit/other caste groups for others—reflecting historical occupational and social hierarchies.
In India, their traditional varna association is most often described as Vaishya (linked to their mercantile and artisan roles involving gold), though regional and subgroup variations exist, and some sources or communities historically place them closer to Shudra status as artisans. Officially, they are listed as Other Backward Classes (OBC) in many states (including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and others), with some local or religious subgroup differences in classification. According to the Jati Bhaskar by Jwala Prasad Mishra, they are Vaishyas.
Public family connections
Public family trees connected with the Sunar last name
No opted-in public family tree is connected with the Sunar last name yet.