KC (orK.C,K.C.) is a surname of medieval origin anglicized as an abbreviation of Khatri Chhetri in Nepal.^[1][2] The surname Khatri Chhetri was historically legally labelled to the children ofBrahmin fathers andKshatriya (Chhetri) mothers after the introduction of Muluki Ain (the Legal Code of Nepal) in 1854 by Jang Bahadur Rana of Nepal.^[1][2][3][4] With its origin in the 12th century CE, the archaic form of the surname "Khatri" was ascribed as a local endonym for the progeny ofBrahmins from Medieval India andKhas women of theMiddle Himalayas in medieval western Nepal.^[2]

Dislodged by theGhurid conquest of India and subsequentDelhi Sultanate,Brahmins fromGujarat,Maharashtra,Karnataka,Rajasthan,Punjab and NorthIndia began emigrating to the hills of westernNepal seeking refuge primarily after the 12th century CE where they encountered anotherIndo-Aryan tribe calledKhasas. The progeny resulting from the unions ofBrahmin men andKhas women were called Khatris.^[2]

In contrast to theBritish rule in India and subsequentBritish Raj,Jang Bahadur Rana promulgated the legal code of Nepal calledMuluki Ain in 1854 enforcing rigid social and matrimonial structures withinHinduism where the patriline of a caste and thereby the status of children legally depended upon the marriage choice of the father.^[5] As per this, the children born from the marriage of aKhas Brahmin father and aKshatriya (Chhetri) mother were labelled as "Khatri or Khatri Chhetri", indicating that they were the descendants of a marriage between a Khas Brahmin man with a Chhetri woman in their ascendant patriline.^[5][1]

Khatris have played a vital role in the unification ofKingdom of Nepal and thereafter as administrators, governors, political leaders and military commanders.^[6] Large number of Khatri commanders became governors (Kaji) of various regions during the unification of Nepal byKing Prithvi Narayan Shah; Kaji Ram Khatri, Kaji Bhim Khatri, Kaji Bir khatri and Kaji Hari Khatri each governed newly consolidatedKingdom of Palpa, regions surroundingGorkha andKathmandu valley, central Nepal and hilly regions of eastern Nepal respectively.^[7] Between 1768 and 1814, Chandrabhan Khatri, Ranabir Khatri, Shiva Narayan Khatri, Gaja Simha Khatri, Damu Khatri and Vamsha Raj Khatri were appointed as the Chief of administration and military, called Sardars, by king Prithvi Narayan Shah and subsequent Shah kings after the merging ofKingdom of Gorkha into the unifiedKingdom of Nepal.^[8] During theRana dynasty rule, Kaji Bishnu Khatri was appointed to govern hill regions of eastern Nepal, Kaji Tribhuvan Khatri governedTerai in a close proximity to British India and Kaji Bhairav Khatri governed hill regions of the western frontier.^[7]

In 1850 AD, Khatris were among the first Nepalese to travel to England and France as a part of a royal mission.^[9][10] Three Khatri commanders of the Nepalese army namely Lieutenant Karbir Khatri, Lieutenant Lal Singh Khatri and Kaji Karbir Khatri accompanied Nepal's rulerJung Bahadur Rana's visit to Europe and Lt. Lal Singh Khatri, among them, was also the first Nepalese to studyEnglish in the British Residency at the Court of Nepal.^[10][11] The over time exposure of Khatris toUnited Kingdom andBritish English led to the anglicization of surname into a formally designated abbreviation of KC (or K.C.), from its original Khatri Chhetri. KCs are prominently visible in politics, cinema, army, arts, education, medicine, business, fashion and sports of Nepal, among others.

• Arjun Narasingha K.C., former five-time minister of Nepal and SeniorNepali Congress Leader
• Kul Bahadur KC, late NepalesePoet andlaureate
• Chitra Bahadur K.C., formerdeputy prime minister of Nepal and chairman of theRashtriya Jana Morcha Party
• Dr. Govinda K.C., Nepalese orthopedic surgeon and philanthropic activist
• Karishma K.C. (Manandhar), one of the most prominent Nepalese actress^[12][13]
• Bhuwan K.C., Nepalese actor, director, producer, singer and filmmaker
• Nayan Bahadur Khatri, longest serving lateChief Justice of Nepal
• Lieutenant Lal Singh Khatri, first Nepalese to studyEnglish and an entourage ofJung Bahadur Rana's visit to Britain and France^[11]
• Jyoti KC, first Nepalese-Americanastronaut and Commander crew ofNASA's Sirius mission^[14][15]
• Atithi Gautam K. C, youngest singer in the world to release a professional solo album
• Hira Singh Khatri, first director of Nepalese Film industry with 1964's movieAama
• Anmol K.C., actor and producer
• Sugarika KC, former Miss Nepal World^[16]
• Ashma KC, Miss Nepal World^[17]
• Sumana KC, Miss Nepal Earth^[18]
• Roshni Khatri, actress and former Miss Nepal Earth^[19]
• Dikshya KC, former Mrs. Nepal World^[20]
• Renu KC, late mother of Nepalese movie superstarRajesh Hamal^[21][22]
• Avantika Khatri, IndianBollywood actress, producer, and director
• Nandita K.C., Nepalese actress
• Bhavna Khatri, IndianBollywood actress
• Sita KC, Nepalese singer
• Sulakshana Khatri, IndianBollywood actress
• Uma Devi Khatri, late IndianBollywood actress
• Madan Khatri Chhetri (KC), Royal Nepal army Lieutenant Colonel glorified as "Captain Madan KC" in theHollywood movieEverest^[23][24]
• Dr. Khadga KC,Rector ofTribhuvan University^[25]
• Rajendra (Khatri) Chhetri, former head ofNepali Armed Forces and son of late colonel Gopal Bahadur Khatri Chhetri, Aide de Camp (ADC) toKing Mahendra of Nepal^[26][27]
• Guru Maharaj Narayan Gautam Khatri aka "Swami Hamsananda", Hindu saint and founder ofSwargadwari Temple complex of Nepal in the 20th century^[28][29]
• Kul Prasad KC, Chief Minister ofLumbini Province of Nepal
• Karan KC, Nepalese cricketer atNepal national cricket team
• Jit Bahadur K.C., first Nepalese athlete to win an international medal in sports (1971)^[30]
• Dr. Kedar Narsingh KC, former director of the National Tuberculosis Center and President of Nepal Medical Association^[31]
• Surya Bahadur KC, late industrialist andParliamentarian of Nepal; founder ofMachhapuchhre Bank Ltd,Rara Noodle & 'KC Group Nepal'^[32][33]
• Shreedhar Khatri,Nepalese Ambassador to the United States^[34]
• Sarala KC, president ofNepal Nursing Council^[35]
• Kamal Khatri, Nepalese singer
• Nilam K.C., formerMinister of Women, Children and Senior Citizens of Nepal
• Sushant KC, Nepalese singer and songwriter^[36][37]
• Sher Bahadur KC, former president ofNepal Bar Association^[38]
• Krishna Khatri, Nepalese football player of national women's team
• Jagat Bahadur KC,Vice-Chancellor ofPurbanchal University^[39]
• Rajendra Kumar KC, former minister of Nepal and leader ofNepali Congress Party^[40]
• Dr. Badri KC, president ofNon Resident Nepali Association (NRNA)^[41]
• Padma Bahadur Khatri, late former foreign minister of Nepal andNepalese Ambassador to the United States
• Dr. Nagendra Bahadur KC, formerMajor general (Nepalese Army) andDirector general of Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences^[42]
• Neelam KC, president ofWomen's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF-Nepal)^[43]
• Phupu Lhamu Khatri (born 1996), Nepalese Olympic judoka
• Buddhi Bahadur KC, executive director of state-ownedRadio Nepal^[44]
• Hira Chandra KC,State Minister of Health and Population of Nepal
• Bedraj KC,Vice-Chancellor ofPokhara University^[45]
• Bal Bahadur K.C., former minister of Nepal
• Sunil KC, chief executive officer (CEO) ofNMB Bank Nepal^[46]
• Kiran KC, prominent comedian and actor of Nepal
• Ramesh Kumar KC, former chairman ofAgricultural Development Bank of Nepal.^[47]
• Manoj Kumar KC, band member of1974 AD
• Dr. Fatta Bahadur KC, former chairman ofNational Insurance Board of Nepal (Rastriya Beema Sansthan)^[48]
• Dhruba KC, former coach ofNepal national football team
• Roshan KC, former chairman ofMachhapuchhre Bank Ltd^[33]
• Bhagawati Khatri, Nepalese sport shooter at the 2000 Olympics
• Anjan KC, national football player of Nepal
• Rupesh KC, national football player of Nepal
• Jenisha KC, Nepalese actress appearing in Nepalese and Bhojpuri Films^[49]
• Sandhya KC, Nepalese actress^[50]
• Sushil KC, national football player of Nepal
• Phuspa Ram KC, former Head ofArmed Police Force (Nepal)^[51]
• Gyanu K.C., formerParliamentarian of Nepal

Fictional characters

• Fenisha Khatri, in the British television seriesCasualty^[52]
• Captain Madan KC, in theHollywood movieEverest based on real life story of Lieutenant Colonel Madan Khatri Chhetri (KC)^[53]

Surname list

This page lists people with thesurnameKC.
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• Surnames
• Surnames of Nepalese origin

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