Gadhavi is an honorific title of the Charans of Gujarat.
[1] In earlier times, as some Charans were owners or governors of forts, i.e. Gadh, they came to be known as Gadhavi.
[2][3] It is synonymous with Charan and is used as a surname.
[5] The word Gadhavi has been derived from semi-Prakrit and semi-Sanskrit words Gadha (fort) and Pati (master), i.e. keeper of a fort.
Masters of fort were called Gadhapati which changed to Gadhavi through the Prakrit Gadha-vai.