The Rana, rulers of Vav, came from Sambhar and Nadol in Rajasthan, and claimed kindred with Prithviraj Chauhan, who was defeated and slain by the Afghans in 1193.

According to other views, his son Rana Ratansing, driven out of Nadol, in 1103, settled at Tharad.

Rana Punja, the seventh in descent from Dedhrav was killed by the Muslims in battle in 1283.

His son Rana Vaja regained his estate, by the influence of his father-in-law the Raval of Jaisalmer, as a grant from the Delhi emperor but lost Tharad.

Vav gained its name from a step-well built by his great-grandfather Rana Mehpalji.