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Family name origins & meanings
- Indian (Gujarat, Bombay city, Rajasthan, Panjab) : Hindu (Bania, Vania, Arora, Jat), Jain, Parsi, and Sikh occupational name meaning ‘perfume seller’ in modern Indic languages, from Sanskrit gāndhika, from gandha ‘perfume’. In Gujarati the word also means ‘grocer’ or ‘pharmacist’. This name occurs chiefly in Gujarat among Vanias and Parsis. It is also found among the Oswal Banias of Rajasthan and among the Aroras and the Jats of the Panjab.