A surname like Wankhede is not a definitive marker of a single caste. In Maharashtra, where this name originates, many different communities share the same surnames.
There are at least four distinct social categories -
1. Scheduled Castes (SC)
A significant number of people with the surname Wankhede belong to the Mahar community. This community is a prominent group within the Scheduled Caste category in Maharashtra.
High-profile example: Sameer Wankhede (IRS officer and former NCB Zonal Director) was the subject of a long legal battle regarding his caste, which the Caste Scrutiny Committee ultimately confirmed as Mahar (SC).
2. Maratha (General / SEBC)
Wankhede is also a traditional Maratha clan name. The Marathas are the largest social group in Maharashtra and are historically associated with warrior and agrarian roles.
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| Barrister Sheshrao Krishnarao Wankhede (1914 – 1988) |
Political/Sports context: S.K. Wankhede, the former politician and cricket administrator after whom the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is named, belonged to the Maratha community.
3. Other Backward Classes (OBC)
The name is also common among the Kunbi community. In many regions, Kunbis (who are traditionally farmers) share surnames with Marathas. While Marathas are often in the General category (or SEBC), Kunbis are classified as OBC.
4. Scheduled Tribes (ST)
In certain parts of Maharashtra (like the Vidarbha region), the surname is found among tribal groups such as the Thakur community, which is classified as a Scheduled Tribe (ST).
Why is there so much overlap?
In Maharashtra, surnames often originate from village names (like the village of Wankhed in Buldhana district). Since people of various castes lived in the same village, they often adopted the village name as their surname (Wankhede, Wankhedkar).