They have fourteen sub-groups, being the Nituria, Rarhi, Chhabhayia, Tikulhara, Tirkuta, Pushtia, Rathore, Solanki, Kazarhatia, Kathbangi, Banwaria, Kougarh, Lodhra, Korohia, and Gulgulia or Gauleri.

[2] In Punjab, the Nat claim to be by origin Brahmin of Marwar, whose duty was supply funeral pyres.

Grierson, however, reported in 1922 that the Nat groups additionally use an artificial secret language, known by names such as naṭī, naṭõ kī bolī, khara khare.

The community is strictly endogamous, and consist of a number of clans, the main ones being the Virk, Muchal, Bhati and Puwar.

[7] The Nat in Haryana remain a semi-nomadic community found mainly in the districts of Karnal, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Rohtak.

The Nat consist of a number of exogamous clans, the main ones being the Dagariya, Sansebar, Baraike, Khoyareke, Paharike, Nangariye, Dhadhasiya, Palike, Jirmichya, Dangiya, Kotiya, Shirkarake, Dilwati, Occhluke, Rashidiya, and Badanke.

The Nat are no longer involved in their traditional occupation, and are now largely landless agriculture workers, migrating to different places in search of employment.

[3] The 2011 Census of India for Uttar Pradesh showed the total Nat Scheduled Caste population (Hindus only) as 214,344.

With the exception of the Muslim Nat, all the subgroups are Hindu and their tribal deities are Kali Maiya and Bundela.

[9] The traditional occupation of the Nat in Uttar Pradesh was village entertainer, and they were acrobats, jugglers, tightrope walkers and singers.

The community is found mainly in Farrukhabad, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Bareilly, Budaun, Mainpuri, Etawah and Agra districts.

The Brijbasi community consists of seven clans, namely the Bijrawat, Dharam Saut, Kakera, gwal, Kurra, Mucchar and Wadaut.

At the time of social functions, they are required to perform for their patrons, who tend to belong to the locally dominant castes.