KC is a surname of medieval origin anglicized as an abbreviation of Khatri Chhetri in Nepal. With its origin in the 12th century CE, the archaic form of the surname "Khatri" was ascribed as a local endonym for the descendants of Brahmins from medieval India and Khas mothers of the Middle Himalayas in medieval western Nepal. The Hinduised hill principalities of Nepal continued this long-standing social tradition in the subsequent centuries, and the progenies of Brahmin fathers and Kshatriya (Chhetri) mothers were referred to as Khatri Chhetris. In the political history of Nepal, large number of Khatris were Sardar of Gorkha Kingdom and Kingdom of Nepal, and educated Khatri families with linguistic expertise in English, Hindi and Nepali languages were pivotal to Nepal's diplomatic mission in the western world during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Article
KC (or K.C, K.C.) is a surname of medieval origin anglicized as an abbreviation of Khatri Chhetri in Nepal. With its origin in the 12th century CE, the archaic form of the surname "Khatri" was ascribed as a local endonym for the descendants of Brahmins from medieval India and Khas mothers of the Middle Himalayas in medieval western Nepal. The Hinduised hill principalities of Nepal continued this long-standing social tradition in the subsequent centuries, and the progenies of Brahmin fathers and Kshatriya (Chhetri) mothers were referred to as Khatri Chhetris. In the political history of Nepal, large number of Khatris were Sardar (or the Chief of Nepalese administration and military) of Gorkha Kingdom and Kingdom of Nepal, and educated Khatri families with linguistic expertise in English, Hindi and Nepali languages were pivotal to Nepal's diplomatic mission in the western world during the 19th and 20th centuries.
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History
Medieval History
Dislodged by the Ghurid conquest of India and subsequent Delhi Sultanate, Brahmins from various regions of medieval India began emigrating to the hills of western Nepal primarily after the 12th century CE where they encountered another Indo-Aryan peoples called Khas. The progeny resulting from the marriages of Brahmin men and Khas women were called Khatris. Throughout the subsequent centuries, the nomenclature associated with this social tradition continued and the descendants of Brahmin fathers and a Kshatriya (Chhetri) mothers were ascribed as "Khatri or Khatri Chhetri", and were categorized as Hindu sacred thread-wearing Tagadhari Kshatriyas of Nepal.
Gorkha Kingdom and the Unification of Nepal
Khatris have played a vital role in the unification of Kingdom of Nepal and thereafter as administrators, governors, political leaders and military commanders. Large number of Khatri commanders became governors (Kaji) of various regions during the unification of Nepal by King Prithvi Narayan Shah; Kaji Ram Khatri, Kaji Bhim Khatri, Kaji Bir khatri and Kaji Hari Khatri each governed newly consolidated Kingdom of Palpa, regions surrounding Gorkha and Kathmandu valley, central Nepal and hilly regions of eastern Nepal respectively. 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 Sardar, by king Prithvi Narayan Shah and subsequent Shah kings after the merging of Kingdom of Gorkha into the unified Kingdom of Nepal. During the Rana dynasty rule, Kaji Bishnu Khatri was appointed to govern hill regions of eastern Nepal, Kaji Tribhuvan Khatri governed Terai in a close proximity to British India and Kaji Bhairav Khatri governed hill regions of the western frontier.
19th-Century to Modern Period
In 1850 AD, Khatris were among the first Nepalese to travel to England and France as a part of a royal mission. Three Khatri commanders of the Nepalese army namely Kaji Karbir Khatri, Lieutenant Lal Singh Khatri and Lieutenant Karbir Khatri accompanied Nepal's ruler Jung Bahadur Rana's visit to Europe and Lieutenant Lal Singh Khatri, among them, was also the first Nepalese to study English in the British Residency at the Court of Nepal. As Nepal opened up to the western world, Khatris were pivotal to carry out English language administrative affairs and international correspondences of the 19th and 20th century.
In the transformative era of the mid 1950s, Khagendra Bahadur KC served as the first English secretary of the government of the Kingdom of Nepal after the establishment of constitutional monarchy and the fall of the Rana Dynasty rule. Similarly, Keshar Bahadur KC served as Nepal's first Ambassador to China during the Chairmanship of Mao Zedong in the mid-1950s. Throughout most of the 1960s and 1970s, former Major General Padma Bahadur Khatri served as the Ambassador of Nepal to the United States working with the administrations of American presidents Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, and also delivered the application for the membership of Nepal in the United Nations and later served twice as the President of the United Nations Security Council. In modern Nepal, KCs are prominently visible in politics, cinema, army, arts, education, medicine, business, fashion and sports of Nepal, among others.
Notable KCs
Guru Maharaj Narayan Gautam Khatri aka "Swami Hamsananda", Hindu saint and founder of prominent Swargadwari Temple of Nepal in the 19th century
Lal Singh Khatri, first Nepalese person to study English, army Lieutenant and an entourage of 1850's Jung Bahadur Rana's visit to Britain and France
Shiva Narayan Khatri, Kaji of Nepal of 18th century and military commander of the unification of Nepal under king Rana Bahadur Shah
Karbir Khatri, Kaji of Nepal of 19th century and entourage of 1850's Jung Bahadur Rana's visit to Britain and France
Sanak Singh Khatri, 19th century military commander of Nepal and brother-in-law of Nepal's ruler Jung Bahadur Rana
Bhawani Singh Khatri, Governor (Sardar) of Kingdom of Nepal of 19th century under King Rajendra Bikram Shah
Ranabir Khatri, Governor (Sardar) of Gorkha Kingdom of 18th century
Indraman Khatri, Governor (Sardar) of Kingdom of Nepal of 18-19th century under Queen Rajendra Rajya Laxmi and Bahadur Shah
Gaja Simha Khatri, Governor (Sardar) of Gorkha Kingdom/Kingdom of Nepal of 19th century
Vamsha Raj Khatri, Governor (Sardar) of Gorkha Kingdom, fought in the Anglo-Nepalese war
Chandrabhan Khatri, Governor (Sardar) of Gorkha Kingdom and Kingdom of Nepal of 18th-19th century
Fictional characters
Fenisha Khatri, in the British television series Casualty
Captain Madan KC, in the Hollywood movie Everest based on real life story of Lieutenant Colonel Madan Khatri Chhetri (KC) of Nepal Army
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Kul Bahadur KC, late Nepalese Poet and laureate
Hira Singh Khatri, first Director of Nepalese Film industry with 1964's movie Aama
Surya Bahadur KC, late industrialist and founder of Machhapuchhre Bank Ltd, Rara Noodle, 'KC Group Nepal', and Parliamentarian of Nepal
Keshar Bahadur KC, Nepal's first Ambassador to China during the Chairmanship of Mao Zedong
Padma Bahadur Khatri, late former foreign minister of Nepal, President of the United Nations Security Council and Nepalese Ambassador to the United States
Khagendra Bahadur KC, first English secretary of the Kingdom of Nepal of mid-20th century
Nayan Bahadur Khatri, longest serving late Chief Justice of Nepal, also Ambassador to China from 1986 to 1990
Rajendra Chhetri (KC), former head of Nepal Army
Pradeep Jung KC, vice-chief and Lieutenant General of Nepal Army
Gopal Bahadur Khatri Chhetri, late colonel and Aide de Camp (ADC) to King Mahendra of Nepal
Arjun Narasingha K.C., former five-time Minister of Nepal and Senior Nepali Congress Leader
Chitra Bahadur K.C., former Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal and chairman of the Rashtriya Jana Morcha Party
Dr. Govinda K.C., Nepalese orthopedic surgeon and philanthropic activist
Jyoti KC, first Nepalese-American astronaut and Commander crew of NASA's Sirius mission
Dr. Kedar Narsingh KC, President of Nepal Medical Association and former Director of the National Tuberculosis Center
Phuspa Ram KC, former Head of Nepal Police
Atithi Gautam K.C, youngest singer in the world to release a professional solo album
Sugarika KC, former Miss Nepal World and television host
Ashma KC, former Miss Nepal World
Sumana KC, former Miss Nepal Earth
Roshni Khatri, former Miss Nepal Earth and actress
Dikshya KC, former Mrs. Nepal World
Karishma K.C. (Manandhar), one of the most prominent Nepalese actress
Bhuwan K.C., Nepalese actor, director, producer, singer and filmmaker
Anmol K.C., actor and producer
Kristi KC (Mainali), one of the prominent Nepalese actress of the 80s and 90s
Renu KC, late mother of Nepalese movie superstar Rajesh Hamal
Sushant KC, Nepalese singer, songwriter and music producer
Avantika Khatri, Indian Bollywood actress, producer, and director
Nandita K.C., Nepalese actress
Bhavna Khatri, Indian Bollywood actress
Sita KC, Nepalese singer
Sandhya KC, Nepalese actress
Sushmita KC, Nepalese actress
Kiran KC, Nepalese actor
Rajani KC, Nepalese actress
Sulakshana Khatri, Indian Bollywood actress
Jiya KC, Nepalese and Bollywood actress and producer
Uma Devi Khatri, late Indian Bollywood actress
Jenisha KC, Nepalese actress
Uttam KC, Nepalese actor and President of the Nepal Film Artists Association (FAAN)
Naresh Kumar KC, Nepalese movie Director
Dinesh KC, Nepalese actor
Surendra KC, Nepalese actor
Dipendra KC, Nepalese Director
Himanchal Raj KC, winner of Mister Nepal 2025
Dr. Khadga KC, Rector of Tribhuvan University
Madan Khatri Chhetri (KC), Royal Nepal army Lieutenant Colonel glorified as "Captain Madan KC" in the Hollywood movie Everest
Dr. Nagendra Bahadur KC, former Major general (Nepal Army) and Director general of Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences
Gaurab Kumar KC, Major general of Nepal Army
Kiran K.C, former Major general of Nepal Army
Kul Prasad KC, Chief Minister of Lumbini Province of Nepal
Karan KC, Nepalese cricketer at Nepal national cricket team
Jit Bahadur K.C., first Nepalese athlete to win an international medal in sports (1971)
Shreedhar Khatri, Nepalese Ambassador to the United States
Sarala KC, President of Nepal Nursing Council
Kamal Khatri, Nepalese singer
Nilam K.C., former Minister of Women, Children and Senior Citizens of Nepal
Sher Bahadur KC, former president of Nepal Bar Association
Menuka Khand K.C., Deputy speaker of Lumbini Province
Krishna Khatri, Nepalese football player of national women's team
Jagat Bahadur KC, Vice-Chancellor of Purbanchal University
Sajan KC, Nepalese entomologist
Rajendra Kumar KC, former minister of Nepal and leader of Nepali Congress Party
Dr. Badri KC, former President of Non Resident Nepali Association (NRNA)
Man Prasad Khatri, Nepalese politician and former Member of Parliament
Neelam KC, president of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF-Nepal)
Phupu Lhamu Khatri (born 1996), Nepalese Olympic judoka
Buddhi Bahadur KC, Executive Director of state-owned Radio Nepal
Hira Chandra KC, State Minister of Health and Population of Nepal
Bedraj KC, Vice-Chancellor of Pokhara University
Bal Bahadur K.C., former minister of Nepal
Sunil KC, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NMB Bank Nepal
Rajiv Khatri, Nepalese journalist and Member of Parliament, Pratinidhi Sabha
Ramesh Kumar KC, former chairman of Agricultural Development Bank of Nepal.
Manoj Kumar KC, band member of 1974 AD
Dr. Fatta Bahadur KC, former chairman of National Insurance Board of Nepal (Rastriya Beema Sansthan)
Indra Bahadur Khatri, Nepalese politician
Dhruba KC, former coach of Nepal national football team
Roshan KC, former chairman of Machhapuchhre Bank Ltd
Kamala Sen-Khatri, Nepalese language activist
Hema Belbase KC, Nepalese politician
Dipak Bahadur K.C., member of the 1st Nepalese Constituent Assembly
Bhagawati Khatri, Nepalese sport shooter at the 2000 Olympics
Anjan KC, national football player of Nepal
Rupesh KC, national football player of Nepal
Sushil KC, national football player of Nepal
Gyanu K.C., former Parliamentarian of Nepal
Sunil K.C., politician (Rastriya Swatantra Party) and Member of Parliament from Kathmandu
Dharmaraj K.C., politician (Rastriya Swatantra Party) and Member of Parliament
Jagadiswor Narsingh KC, Nepalese politician and former member of Constituent Assembly
Manoj KC, Head of Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police
