Kamboj ( कम्बोज् ಕಮ್ಬೊಜ್ கம்பொஜ் കമ്ബൊജ് ಕಮ್ಬೊಜ್ కమ్బొజ్ ਕਮ੍ਬੋਜ੍ কম্বওজ্) is frequently used as surname or last name by many Kambojs, currently living in India. Their Muslim counter-parts living in Pakistan mostly use Kamboh instead. The Kambojs/Kambohs are the modern reprentatives of ancient Kambojas, a well known Kshatriya clan of Indo-Iranian Aryans, stated to have had both Indian as well as Iranian affinities (Dr Keith , Dr Macdonnel, Vedic Index).
Kamboj Diaspora
The Kamboj or Kamboh living in upper India ( Greater Panjab) are identified as the modern representatives of the ancient Kambojas. They are found as Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Buddhists and the Jains.The Tajiks, Siyaposh tribe ( Kam/Kamoz, Katir/Kamtoz) of Nuristan, Yashkuns and the Yusufzais of Eastern Afghanistan and NWFP of Pakistan are said by various scholars to have descended from the ancient Kambojas.
The Kamboj are also found in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Ganganagar in Rajasthan. A minuscule agrarian community called Kambhoj is living in Maharashtra which probably has descended from those Kambojas who had settled in South-West India around Christian era.
The Kamboh are found in Punjab of Pakistan.
Etymology
Name derives from ancient Kamboja, an Indo -Iranian Aryan clan of Indo-European family, originally localized in Pamirs and Badakshan in Central Asia.
Pronunciation
Noun
Kamboj (plural: Kambojs)
Alternative spellings
Adjective
Kamboj (no comparative or superlative)
