Kochhar or Kochar is a surname that is found among the Punjabi Khatri community of India. [1]
Before 1947, Kochhars were located in the districts of Gujrat and Rawalpindi in Punjab, Pakistan. According to historian R.C. Dogra, Kochhar comes from the word "Kavach" meaning armour. [2] Among the Khatris, it is part of the Bunjahi sub-caste which consists of clans such as Duggal, Handa, Johar, Puri, Nanda, Thapar, Vij, Wahi and 44 other clans. [1]
The Kochhar clan has produced Dewan Mokham Chand, described as one of the most important generals of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Sikh Empire who was responsible for defeating the Durrani Empire. [3]