[1] Their traditional occupation is that of commerce and as such they form part of the wider Bania occupation-based community that also includes castes such as the Khandelwals, Oswals, Porwals, and Agrawals, Gahois.

[8] Some surnames in the Maheshwari community are Agiwal, Aagsud, Ajmera, Asawa, Attal, Baheti, Bajaj, Baladi, Baldwa, Bangad, Bhandari, Bhansali, Bhattad, Bhuradya, Bhutda, Bhadada, Birla, Biyani, Bang, Chandak, Chaparwal, Chitlangya, Chechani, Chokhda, Daad, Daga, Damani, Darak, Dargad, Devpura, Dhoopad, Dhoot, Gadaiya, Gagrani, Gaggar, Gattani, Gilda, Heda, Hurkat, Inani, Jaju, Jakhotiya, Jhanwar, Kabra, Kacholya, Kahalya, Kalani, Kalantri, Kaliya, Kankani, Karwa, Kasat, Khatwar, Laddha, Lahoti, Lakhotiya, Lohia, Loya, Lohiya, Malpani, Mall, Malu, Mandhanya, Mandvora, Maniyar, Mantri, Modani, Mundhra, Nawal, Nawandhar, Nolakha, Nyati, Pallod, Partani, Porwal, Randhad, Rathi, Saboo, Sarda, Sikchi, Sodhani, Somani, Soni, Tapdia, Tawri, Toshniwal, Totla and many more.

[9] There is a variant myth of origin, recorded by Sivkaran Ramratan Darak in 1923 and subsequently referred to by modern scholars such as Lawrence Babb.

In this version, a prince was supported by 72 Rajputs in disrupting a sacrifice being made by some sages, who retaliated by cursing them such that they were turned to stone.

[10] The arrival of colonial trade with the British encouraged Marwari people of Rajasthan to expand their business interests and geographical influence.