| Jat Clan: Sohal | |
| 'Distribution | Punjab (India) and Punjab (Pakistan) |
| Branches: | None |
| Religion | Sikhism and Islam |
| Languages | Punjabi |
| Surnames: | Sohal |
Sohal is a Jatt, gotra (clan) found in both Punjab, India and Punjab Pakistan. They are mainly Sikhs in India, and Muslims in Pakistan. [1]
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In Indian Punjab, Sikhs write this last name as "sohal" for its pronounced as such when written in Gurmukhi.
In Indian punjab there are many villages named "Sohal" in the district of Amritsar,Tarantaaran & Gurdaspur.
One of the prominent villages is located on Amritsar Pathankot GT road few miles north of the town of Dhariwal in District Gurdaspur. It has a Train Station named after the village Sohal on Amritsar- Jammu rail line. There are 7 villages of Sohal in Amritsar district, around Jhabal & Bhikiwind area.
Sohal Ramgarhia sikhs are considered cousins of Aulakh Ramgarhia Sikhs and they do not marry each other.
The great Kushan King "Kanishka" is said to have belonged to Sohal Ramgarhia tribe.
In India they are also found in Jalandhar District, with their main villages being Sangal Sohal, Jagir, Athoula, Atta, Sohalpur and Sohal in Nakodar Tehsil, and Chak Bilga in Nawanshahr District.For example Sohal jatts from village Sangal Sohal, Athoula S.Manjit Singh Athoula President(Local Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee) and Jassi Sohal Famous Singer from village Athoula and Harpreet Sohal from village Sangal Sohal) [2]
In Pakistan, the Sohal Sehol are found mainly in Faisalabad District, but most originate from Amritsar and Gurdaspur District in Punjab, India. There are also a small numbers found in Gujrat District and Sialkot District.
Hameed pur Kalan is an old Sohal village in Gujranwala District, while the village of Sohal Kalan, Sohal Khurd and Sohal are found in Gujrat District.
Hardo Sohal is an old village in Sheikhupura district of West Punjab.
The most well known fictional anti-hero, Vimal created by Surender Mohan Pathak, is a Sohal[3]. His full name being Surinder Singh Sohal. But he is known thus for he belongs to the village "Sangal Sohal", following the practice of using the name of one's ancestral village for surname (like Badal or Barnala, for instance)