Wani/Vani (or Wanie, Wyne, Wain) is a surname of a caste found throughout India and Pakistan, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Maharashtra. Both Wain (pronounced like wine with a nasal 'n') and Wani/Vani are acceptable pronunciations.
Historians agree that the Wani/Wain belong to the merchant caste and were originally Kashmiri Hindus.[1][2] Even among those Wani/Wain who converted from Hinduism to Islam, the profession of these people remained primarily in trade and commerce. Taareekh Hassan has mentioned that Wani Muslims became one of the highest castes among Sheikhs.[3]
Wains are divided into several sub-castes such as Kesar-Wani (those who sell saffron),[1] Tal-Wain (those who sell oil), kathar-wani(those who sell grocery) Pui-Wani, Baand-Wani, Bas-Wani, Tarangar-Wani, Kakar-Wani, and Par-Wani. Because of the adoption of different trades by members of the tribe, various branches of the tribe have come into existence. In the 1931 census about 72,311 people were identified with Wani caste. Some Wanis have migrated from the Kashmir Valley to Punjab region, as well as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar Maharashtra.[3][4]
^ abPeople of India: Uttar Pradesh, Volume 42, Part 2. Anthropological Survey of India. 2005. p. 769. ISBN9788173041143. The Kesarwani Bania, or simply the Kesarwani, as they are popularly referred to, are an important group of the Vaishya or business community. They were also referred to as Baniya, Bani and Bakkal in the British time. From Kashmir, they came to Kara- Manikpur at the end of the twelfth century.
^ abpages 259 to 260 of vol.1 of Tawaareekh Aqwaam e Kashmir {Histories of the Tribes of Kashmir} by Muhammad Deen Fauq, written in 1934 A.D. ; Published by Nigarshat, 24 Muzang Road, Lahore, Pakistan, in 2003 A.D