The tribe is also called variously as Bhuiya, Bhuiyan and Bhuinya.The wordBhuyan and its alternate spellings are possibly originated from Sanskrit word for earth, Bhumi and possibly mean "belonging to soil". The word bhuiyan is used in many different contexts and does not always refer to the tribe. Some other tribes and some non-tribal landholders also use Bhuyan as title.
History
Early history of the tribe is uncertain. But the Bhuyan was one of the most populous and widespread tribes in colonial india. The Northern Tributary States of Orissa were the principal stronghold of the Bhuyans. It is speculated that they were the oldest inhabitants of the states of Keonjhar, Bonai, Gangapur, Bamra and Singhbhum. They were also found in Bengal, Bihar, Chhotanagpur, Assam, the United Provinces, the Central Provinces, Central India Agency and the Madras Presidency. In the feudatory state of Keonjhar and Bonai the tribe was especially powerful. They had traditional rights to install the Raja of the state.
Subdivisions
Broadly Bhuyans can be divided into two groups according to their general area of residence. Hill Bhuyans - Known as Pawri or PauriBhuyan, they generally live in the hilly and inaccessible forest areas. They have a more primitive mode of life and more economically disadvantaged, and traditionally engaged in Podu cultivation. They were however politically powerful and the rulers of the Keonjhar state were dependent on their support. Plains Bhuyans- Plains Bhuyans live among nontribal populations and are influenced by the Hinduism and its rituals. During British rule they were the organised militia of the Keonjhar state. Both of them held the lands on conditions of service and maintained themselves in a state of preparedness for taking the field at a moments notice to oppose their Raja or fight for him.
Culture
The Bhuyans usually live in small homogeneous and villages. Their family structure is mostly nuclear. A group of families with blood relations form the smallest social unit called kutumba or the lineage. Several agnatic kutumbas constitute an exogamous clan called
