Datts are the descendants of Rishi Bhardwaj and derive their gotra from his name. Some consider Gaj Bhavan the grandson of Rishi Bhardwaj to be the real founder of the clan. The word Datt is derived from the simple Hindi word 'data' meaning a charitable person. Some interpret it as a deformation of the word 'Aditya' which means' SUI/" in Sanskrit. There are 12 Adityas, i.e. 12 names of the sun for the 12 months of the year. As there is a Datta surname amongst the Bengalis also who are Kayasth and not brahmin, the traditional Mohyals prefer the epithet of Datt instead of Datta. The origin of Datts is also traced to a chieftain named Datt who accompanied Alexander the Great on his return journey to Macedonia, as an envoy of Raja Porus. Actually, Alexander is said to have taken two brahmins with him, named Datt and Kalanos. However, on the way, when Alexander fell seriously ill and died at Babylon; Datt along with his followers drifted to Arabia and settled at Harya Bunder. With the passage of time, there emerged a viable community of Datts in Arabia and in a subsequent era they became rulers of small dominions in that country. The presence in Arabia of many Hindus. mostly Brahmins.