Is Rishi Sunak Brahmin or Khatri ?

 There is no proper answer to this without evidence.

Khatri here would claim him to be Khatri, while Brahmins here would claim to be Brahmin.

The reality is a bit different.

Sunak is neither a pure Brahmin, nor a pure Khatri.

Sunak surname is not listed in Khatri caste, neither in Brahmin caste.

So all claims by Brahmins or Khatris here are just bogus.

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From the mother’s side:

Rishi Sunak’s relatives in Ludhiana express happiness on him becoming UK PM

Among the relatives of Rishi Sunak who live in Ludhiana is Subhash Berry, a cousin of Rishi’s mother Usha Sunak

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/rishi-sunak-s-relatives-in-ludhiana-express-happiness-on-him-becoming-uk-pm-101666718216795.html

Rishi Sunak’s maternal grandfather’s name is Raghubir Berry.

And Berry surname is listed in Bunjahi clan of Khatri caste:

Khatri - Wikipedia

Caste in South Asia Khatri Religions Hinduism , Sikhism and Islam Languages Major: Lahnda variety of Punjabi ( Potohari , Hindko , Multani/Saraiki ) [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Minor: Hindi , Gujarati , Dogri , Kangri , Sindhi , [6] Pashto , Urdu , [7] Kutchi Country India , Pakistan and Afghanistan Region Punjab , Sindh , Delhi , Jammu and Kashmir , [8] Himachal Pradesh , [9] Haryana , [10] Gujarat [11] Khatri is a caste of Indian subcontinent that is predominantly found in India , but also in Pakistan and Afghanistan . Traditionally, they were mostly employed in commercial professions , [12] [13] [14] artisanal occupations (particularly silk weaving ) [15] [16] [17] [18] as well as engaged in agricultural [19] and scribal professions. [20] Hindu Afghans and Sikh Afghans are predominantly of Khatri and Arora origin. [21] During the British colonial era, they also served as lawyers or lawyer's clerks and engaged in administrative jobs. [22] [23] Few of them served in the British army after being raised as Sikhs. [19] The caste has provided many significant religious figures and teachers, such as all of the Gurus and founder of Sikhism . [24] Khatris have also provided notable martial and administrative figures such as Hari Singh Nalwa , the commander-in-chief of the Sikh Khalsa Army , and Vikram Batra , a captain of the Indian Army . [25] [26] During the Partition of British India in 1947, many Khatris migrated to India from the regions that comprise modern-day Pakistan. [27] [28] Etymology The word Khatri in the Hindi Language comes from the Sanskrit word " Kshatriya" according to the Śabdasāgara Lexicon by Shyamasundara Dasa [29] According to B. N. Puri , philologists agree that the terms "Khatri" and "Kshatriya" are synonymous. The Sanskrit conjunct Ksha (क्ष) turns into the Prakrit Kha (ख) as per the grammarian Vararuchi . [30] This change is not only accepted in Prakrit but in all Indian vernaculars derived by it such as Gujarati, Urdu, Gurumukhi as well as Persian. For example, Sanskrit words kshetra, kshama, laksha, iksha turns into kheta, khama, lakha and ikha respectively. The substituition of Ri (ऋ) from Riya is also witnessed in case of Hindi. Hence, the change from Kshatriya to Khatri is in consonance with the Prakrit rule and Hindi usage. The same is also testified by scholars R. G. Bhandarkar and Shapurji Edulji . [30] Purnima Dhavan sees the claim as originating from a conflation of the phonetically similar words khatri and kshatriya, but refers to Khatris as a "trading caste" of the Sikh Gurus. [31] As per historian W. H. McLeod and Louis Fenech, Khatri is a Punjabi form of the word Kshatriya. [32] Peter Hardy and A. R. Desai also agree that Khatri is derived from Kshatriya. Despite the etymology, Hardy says that Khatri is "a mercantile class" and Desai says the Khatris were "traditionally tradesmen and government officials". [33] [34] Dr. Dharamvir Bharati comments that in Punjabi language, Kshatriya is pronounced as Khatri. [35] As per

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khatri

A simple Google result on Berry caste reveals:

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From the father’s side:

There is a caste called Sunar, which has surnames like Soni, etc.

Sunar - Wikipedia

Sunar (alternately, Sonar or Swarnkar ) is a Hindu caste in India referring to the community of people who work as goldsmiths . [1] The community is primarily Hindu, and found usually in Northern India. Etymology [ edit ] The term Sunar may derive from the Sanskrit suvarna kār , "worker in gold". [2] The Sunar are still involved in their traditional occupation, that is being goldsmiths. There is however a steady process in taking up other occupations, and the community in Haryana and Punjab as whole is fairly successful, having produced several professionals. [3] Factions [ edit ] The Sunars are divided into a large number of territorial and non-territorial groupings called alla. Some of the major alla are the Jhankhad, Santanpuriya, Lal sultaniya, Dekhalantiya, Mundaha, Bhigahiya, Samuhiya, Chilliya, Katiliya Kalidarwa, Naubastwal, Berehele, Gedehiya, Shahpuriya, Mathureke Paliya, Katkaria and Nimkheriya ,Vaibhaha . Each lineage is associated with a particular area. To which its ancestors belonged to. The Sunar use Soni, Seth, Swarnkar, Shah, Bhutani, Sonik, Kapoor, Mehra, Rastogi, Verma, Saraf etc. as their surnames. In Gujarat and Rajasthan , the community is also known as Soni . [4] In Haryana, the Sunars are often known as Swarnakar, Soni , Suri and Verma , are their common surname. [5] In Punjab and Rajasthan, Mair Rajput community work as goldsmiths. See also [ edit ] References [ edit ] ^ People of India : Uttar Pradesh (Volume XLII) edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 1500 to 150 ^ R.V. Russell (October 1995). The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India . Vol. IV. Published Under the Orders of the Central Provinces Administration, Macmillan and Co., Limited St. Martin's Street, London. 1916. p. 517 . Retrieved 6 July 2011 . ^ People of India : Haryana (Volume XXIII) edited by M.L Sharma and A.K Bhatia pages 475 to 479 Manohar Books ^ People of India : Uttar Pradesh (Volume XLII) edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 1500 ^ People of India : Haryana (Volume XXIII) edited by M.L Sharma and A.K Bhatia page 475 Manohar Books Further reading [ edit ]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunar

Sunak is an alternative and old name for Sunar caste.

It was popularized in Southern Pakistan, near Sindh area. Punjabis in the North could not pronounce it and started calling it Sunar.

Many Sunars classify themselves as Mair Rajputs, many as Khatris.

Mair Rajputs for your reference:

SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia.

Mair Rajputs or Maid Rajputs is the name of a Hindu and Sikh Punjabi caste in India from amongst the Punjabi Rajputs. They are Hindu or Sikh by religion and comprise of the warrior race of Rajputs who had originally migrated from Rajasthan with the movement of the armies that brought Rajput rule over Punjab and had settled down in Punjab generations ago. During the ensuing prolonged period of lasting peace there after when they could not be supported by the armies and could not find any work as warriors many join Army and other trade and being rich some started jewelry businesses. "Sunar" is a Hindi word for Goldsmith and Jeweler. In India, a metalworker who specializes in working with gold and also at the same time is a businessman specializing in selling gold, silver, other precious metals including precious stones and jewelry / ornaments crafted from these. In time it soon became a well known fact thereafter, locally in Punjab, that the profession and business of "Sunars" was monopolized and run by Rajputs who had slowly become a subcast of the Punjabi Rajputs by then and became known as "Mair Rajputs". They also go by Sikh Rajputs. It must be noted that not all Sunar/Jewelers are Mair Rajputs History With the partition of India in 1947 into India and Pakistan the Indian state of Punjab was also split in two. Hindus and Sikhs including Mair Rajputs living in the portion of Punjab that was given to the newly created Muslim country of Pakistan had to leave by force to save themselves from communal slaughters and forceful conversion to Islam, many of them fled their ancestral homeland now in Pakistan in a complete destitute state and had to start life afresh in India. All their ancestral land, property and wealth was left behind in what was now Pakistan. The following book gives a detailed account of the atrocities committed against Hindus and Sikhs including Mair Rajputs in Punjab during partition of India in 1947: Talib, Gurbachan (1950). Muslim League Attack on Sikhs and Hindus in the Punjab 1947. India: Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee. Online 1 Online 2 Online 3 Please Note: Included are three online sources above from where a free online copy of the above book can be read for reference. Life was tough for the refugees including the Mair Rajputs at the beginning after partition; they had to live in a destitute state in refugee camps in India before they were allotted specially constructed houses in the Refugee colonies by the government of India. Many of them settled in Delhi and other parts of India after partition. Today they are again a very successful clan of people and have brought pride for their families and country by excelling in all walks of life, many of them joined the Armed Forces. The British recruited from this clan too from amongst the Rajputs for their Rajput Regiments due to their famous Rajput warrior bloodline and today the Indian Army continuous this tradition. A small percentage of them still continue to do busin

https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Mair_Rajputs

Not only that, Sunik is also a Gothra of Mair Rajputs:

Mair Rajput Gothras

Judging from a few lists of Mair Rajput gothras that were different from each other, it is difficult to see which gothras were the original Mair Rajput gothras and which ones have recently made their way into the tribe. Because Rose's list is the oldest, dating back to 1914, and also the most extensive, I have used that as a starting point and added the gothras that he failed to mention. Because one gothra can have several different spellings, I have in most cases only written the most common spelling. The italicized names are unconfirmed gothras that have only recently appeared as Mair gothras in a list. Some of these unconfirmed gothras are those of other Rajput tribes. Also, because the Mairs and Tanks have several gothras in common, it is possible that some formerly Tank gothras have now become Mair gothras. In his 1914 book , Rose mentioned that in the Punjabi Gujrat area, a part of present-day Pakistan, the Mairs had 52 gothras. The whole area of Punjab had a total of 56 Mair Rajput gothras. However, his list of Mair gothras included at least 108 distinct gothras (530). The list below contains at least 120 distinct, confirmed Mair Rajput gothras. A: Ahat, Ahi, Ajipal, Alu, Ashat, Achil, Adhupiya, Ajwal B: Babbar , Bachcha, Badra, Bagga , Baghel , Bagri , Bahrawal, Bajania, Ballan, Barare, Basaan, Buttan, Bir , Bham, Bhashaan, Bhodla, Bhulla, Bhutta , Bohr, Brajpal, Buland, Buttar(Butra), Bageshwar, Begal, Bhajwal, Bhamber, Bhatala, Bhatwar C: Chalagni, Changeri, Chauhan**, Chatrana, Chamras, Chhahrawa, Chhurga D: Dadar, Dahli, Dahm, Dasaur(Desor) , Dasamedhia, Dawar, Dhalla , Dhariwal , Dharma, Dharna, Dhunna(Dhuna) , Dhupar(Dhoopa), Dur, Dhuma, Daangar, Dahela, Dala, Dalal, Dhaya, Dhera, Dhooliya, Dholiyan, Dhorana G: Gogar, Gogna , Gogta, Gohngla, Gori, Gund, Gajjar, Gotiyan H: Hira I: J: Jala, Jahlu (Jhalu), Jalur, Jaura , Jhangi, Jhangli, Jhatiwal, Jhingoa, Julpan, Jajoriya, Jalagaria, Janglawa, Jatyan, Jhajhora, Jhoonda K: Kuchhera (Kachiyara), Kakka, Kanda, Kandiwal, Karor, Karwal(Gharwal?) , Kashiari, Khepal, Khich , Khokhal, Khori, Khungar(Khangar) , Khurmi, Kunjhai, Kalwa, Kanak, Kangra, Kanwar, Khajuria, Khajwal, Kikyan, Kukra L: Ladhar(Lodhar, Luddhar) , Ledha, Lota, Luthra M: Main , Malhaddi, Malpana, Mahaich, Mandhari , Mannan, Masaun , Maston, Mitru , Modan, Mukara, Mahesh, Manda N: Nagora, Nahal, Narnori, Nischal , Nakhla, Nagrana, Narnauli O: Odar(Udera) P: Paham, Pajji , Pidri, Phaur, Partola, Pikhi, Plaud , Pancham, Parwala R: Rajpal, Rangar, Ranman, Ratti, Roda , Rudke, Rudra S: Sadhiora (Sehdev) , Sarwana, Sarna, Sanderia, Shinh(Sinh) , Sedha, Seedha, Siri, Sunik, Sachchu (Suchchu), Sur , Susa T: Tarriwal, Thakran, Tunwa, Tohaj, Toshawar, Tukrada U: Udera(Odar) V: Vaid, Vichcha W: Waddar **Chauhan technically is not a Mair Rajput gothra. It is the most famous Rajput tribe of India and many Mair Rajputs write their last name as "Chauhan."

https://mairrajputs.tripod.com/gothras.html

To add more weightage:

Sunak is also a division listed in Mair Rajput community:

Source: https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/North_Indian_Notes_and_Queries/b5gsAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=following+are+sub+divisions+of+mairs&pg=RA1-PA42&printsec=frontcover

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So, Rishi Sunak

-Clearly Khatri from mother’s side.

-Can be Rajput or Khatri from father’s side.

-Has no relation with Brahmin caste whatsoever.

Why would a Brahmin obtain a surname that sounds like a OBC caste (Sunar caste) ?

Why would a Brahmin marry someone from Berry surname (Khatri) ?

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Most common misconception on this topic (Gothra misconception):

Gothra for RIshi Sunak is Bhrigu:

'Rishi Sunak is a Sanatani from Bhrigu Gotra' — what Hindu Right press said about new British PM

ThePrint’s round-up of how pro-Hindutva media covered and commented on news and topical issues over the past few weeks.

https://theprint.in/read-right/rishi-sunak-is-a-sanatani-from-bhrigu-gotra-what-hindu-right-press-said-about-new-british-pm/1191672/

Many Brahmins falsely claim that only Brahmins use Bhrigu gothra (Gaur Brahmins primarily), so he must be Brahmin.

This is as illogical as myself saying that “I don’t smoke and Elon Musk doesn’t smoke, so Elon Musk and myself are same.”

As per expert Sheering:

FAQ & Answers on Gotra & Pravaram

QUESTION & ANSWER on – GOTHRA Compiled by Gopalakrishna Ramaiyer, (Retd. AGM, BSNL), Tambaram, Chennai Q-01. Where do we have maximum Brahmins in India? A-01. Brahmins even in Uttar Pradesh, where they are most numerous, constitute just 9 percent. In Tamil Nadu they form less than 3 percent and in Andhra Pradesh they are less than 2 percent. Q-02. How many sages are there as profounder of Dharma Sasthras? A-02. Twenty-one Rishis were the profounder of Dharma Sastras. There is a lot of contradiction among these Darmasastras, even within one Smriti.  These differences in the rules and rituals resulted in the rigid stratification of sub-castes among Brahmins. None of these smritis is supreme and universally applicable throughout the Indian Sub-continent. The oldest among these Dharma Sutras are Apasthambha, Baudhayana, Gautama and Vasishta Sutras. Apasthambha: Apasthambha, a native of Andhra Country, belonged to Krishnayajurveda School. He belonged to fifth century BC. Apasthambha’s teachings are called Apasthambhasutra or Apasthambhasmriti. Baudhayana: (Bodhayana) Baudhayana also belonged to Krishnayajurveda School and was an inhabitant of Andhra Country. Baudhayana’s teachings are called Baudhayanasutra or Baudhayanasmriti. Brihaspati: Brihaspati was probably the first jurist to make a clear distinction between civil and criminal justice. Yajnavalkya referred to Brihaspati Gautama: Gautama was the most ancient sage of all Brahmin lawgivers. He was quoted by Baudhayana and belonged to Samaveda School.  Gautama’s teachings are called Gautamasutra Harita: Baudhayana and Vasishta in their Dharmasutras quote Harita.  Haritasmriti or Haritasutra is an extensive work. Katyayana: Yajnavalkya mentions Katyayana. Katyayanasmriti is quoted in several works of Viswarupa, Mitramisra etc. Smriti Chandrika cites 600 verses of Katyayana sutras. He may belong to the same period as Narada and Brihaspati. Manu: Manu is a mythical personality and is the ancestor of the entire humankind.  Manu received the code from Brahma, and communicated it to ten sages and requested Bhrigu Rishi to repeat it to the other nine.  This code of conduct recited by Bhrigu is called Manusmriti Narada: Sage Narada was probably a native of Nepal around first century AD. Naradasmriti is the first legal code unhampered by the mass of religious and moral teachings. Some authors think that Narada belonged to Gupta period when there was a distinct revival of Brahminism and Sanskrit literature. Vasishta: Vasishta belonged to 3rd century BC and a native of North India. Vasishta’s teachings are called Vasishtasutra or Vasishtasmriti. Vishnu: Vishnu belonged to 1st or 2nd century AD. Vishnu’s teachings are called Vishnusutra or Vishnusmriti. Yajnavalkya: Yajnavalkya belonged to Suklayajurveda School12.  He was a native of Mithila City in North Bihar and probably lived anywhere from few centuries before Christ to 200 AD. However, some scholars think he belonged to first or second century AD.  Yajnav

https://trsiyengar.com/faq-answers-on-gotra-pravaram/

“Sherring says the Vatsa, Bida, Arshtikhena, Yaska, Mitryu, Shaunak and Bainya gotras claim descent from sage Bhrigu (Vatsa-Brighu?)”

Historically, Bhrigu gothra or Saptrishi gothras are seen in Brahmins, Khatris and Rajputs.

As per above link and charts, Baniya and Vatsa are the primary segregegations where Bhrigu gothra is decended.

So, most of the people with Bhrigu gothra are actually Khatris, Rajput and Baniyas, and not Brahmins.

To support my claim further, I attach the following link:

क्षत्रिय - राजपूतों के गोत्र और वंशावली / Kshatriya - Rajput Gotra & Vanshavali

राजपूतों की वंशावली /  Rajput Vanshavali "दस रवि से दस चन्द्र से बारह ऋषिज प्रमाण, चार हुतासन सों भये कुल छत्तिस वंश प्रमाण भौमवं...

https://shrirajputkarnisena.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

Both Bhriguvanshi, Bhrigu and Bharadwaj are listed among Rajput gothras.

Similarly, large proportion of Khatris have Bhrigu gothra and many have Kashyap gothra (another Saptrishi gothra).

Unfortunately, for people claiming him to be Brahmin; the gothra is not listed in Saraswat Brahmin clan (Punjabi Brahmin):

Gowda Saraswath Brahmins, Their Gotras and Kuladevatas

Gowda Saraswath Brahmins were originally residents along the banks of Saraswathi river. There are references to these Brahmins in Veda, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavatam and Bhavishyothara Purana, as one among several Brahmins. In Vanaparva of Mahabharata when Pandavas were residing in Dwaitaranya and Kamyakhavana along the banks of Saraswati, Rishi Vakadalbhya while addressing Yudishtira, says “O King, you are indeed fortunate to have got the services of learned Brahmins belonging to the Gotras of Bhrugu, Angiras, Agastya, Kashyap, Atri to do the Agnihotra rituals”. These are the Gotras of Saraswath Brahmins. The original habitat of Saraswaths, land between the rivers Saraswathi and Drishadvati, is mentioned in Rigveda. This land is referred to as Brahmavarta in Manusmruti. Mention of this piece of land is also there in Varahamihira’s Bruhat Samhita, Markandeya Purana and Bhagavata. Gowda Saraswath Brahmins have a long history and hoary past in respect of their affiliation and allegiance to Kuladevatas or family deities. They carried their Kuladevatas along with them from place to place as they migrated over the years. According to Mahabharata, Lord Parushurama, an Avatar of Vishnu, was furious at the whole of Kshatriya race when his father Jamadagni was killed by King Kartaviryarjuna. To avenge this killing he exterminated the whole Kshatriya race in a bloody battle and took over all their territories. He was advised by his guru to do Prayaschita (Expiatory rituals) for this slaughter of kings, and as a parihara he donated all the conqured territories away. As he could not stay in a land donated by him, he went south of Vindhyas and obtained from Varuna the King of seas, a piece of land known as Sapta Konkana on the west coast of India. Konkana is the name of his mother. In order to tend this reclaimed land and settle down he went to Gowda desha, (Trihotrapura), near present day Bihar and West Bengal, and brought back with him Gowda Saraswath Brahmins of Ten Gotras along with their family deities. The ten Gotras of Gowda Saraswath Brahmins brought by him to Kushastali in Goa, which is the mid Sapta Konkana, are as follows 1. Bharadwaj 2.Kaushik 3. Vatsa 4. Koundinya 5. Kashyapa 6.Vasista 7. Jamadagni 8. Vishwamitra 9. Goutama 10. Atri. Kula referres to a family of persons related by blood living together and dedicated to a common cause. The Kurma Purana says that a Kula has nine characteristic namely 1. Good conduct 2. Humility 3. Scholarship 4. Stature in Society 5. Prilimigrage in Holy places 6. Steadfastness to the common cause, 7. Noble actions 8. Studiousness and 9. Generosity in donating to good causes. When the members of the Kula deviate from these characteristics and indulge in contrary conduct and behaviour, then the Kula perishes. “आचारो विनयो विद्या प्रतिष्ठा तीर्थदर्शनम् ।   निष्ठा वृत्तिस्तपो दानं नवधा कुललक्षणम्” |कुलान्यकुलतां यान्ति ब्राह्मणातिक्रमेण वै ।    अनृतात् पारदार्य्याच्च तथाऽभक्षस्य भक्षणात् ।   अश्रौतधर्म्माचरणात् क्

https://srimad.org/?p=507

But is found among Rajputs of Punjab (Shaunik, descendent of Bhrigu):

Same link as above.

Mohiyal Brahmins typically use Chhiber as gothra for decedents from Bhrigu. Haven’t heard of any Chhiber using Bhrigu as a gothra personally.

It is evident from surname and gothra analysis that Rishi Sunak is not a Brahmin by any accounts.

It is also unlikely for a Brahmin to have married someone from Berry surname (Khatri) in 1940s when inter-caste marriage did not happen much, and for any Brahmin clan to adapt a Sunar surname.