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'''Punjabi Shaikh and Pakistani sheikh or shaikh''' ({{lang-ur|{{Nastaliq| پنجابی شيخ}}}}) are a branch of the ]. The family name is popularly known for its merchant-focused businessmen and noblemen in South Asia. Shaikhs claimed to be descended from Arabs, however this was almost never the case. In Punjab, the title ''shaikh'' was given to recent converts and not to those of Arab descent as a polite euphemism.<ref>{{Cite book|date=20 February 2004|title=Sociology of religion in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q_0O8LxsWb8C&q=shaikh+occupational+caste&pg=PA97|isbn=9780761997818|last1=Robinson|first1=Rowena}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Nyrop|first=Richard F.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FaggQsmGFWkC&q=sheikh+occupational+title+in+pakistan&pg=PA149|title=Pakistan a country study|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|year=1983|edition=4|pages=149}}</ref> |
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'''Punjabi Shaikh and Pakistani sheikh or shaikh''' ({{lang-ur|{{Nastaliq| پنجابی شيخ}}}}) are a branch of the ]. The family name is popularly known for its merchant-focused businessmen and noblemen in South Asia. In Punjab, the title ''shaikh'' was given to recent converts and not to those of Arab descent as a polite euphemism. The Punjabi Shaikh people came in from various different countries and settled in Punjab many centuries ago. During the Muslim conquests of India, they converted to Islam and were given the honourable title of Shaikh. They generally belong to wealthy backgrounds and are known for their hospitality.<ref>{{Cite book|date=20 February 2004|title=Sociology of religion in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q_0O8LxsWb8C&q=shaikh+occupational+caste&pg=PA97|isbn=9780761997818|last1=Robinson|first1=Rowena}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Nyrop|first=Richard F.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FaggQsmGFWkC&q=sheikh+occupational+title+in+pakistan&pg=PA149|title=Pakistan a country study|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|year=1983|edition=4|pages=149}}</ref> |
