Kansabanik or Kansari is a Hindu caste^[1] found from West Bengal, Odisha and Assam state of India. They are traditionally braziers and coppersmiths by profession.^[2] Kansabanik represents one of the fourteen castes belonging to 'Nabasakh' group in Bengal.^[3]

The Kansari community historically belonged to the metalworking artisan class, engaged in:

• Manufacturing bronze and brass utensils used in everyday life.
• Crafting ritual objects for Hindu religious ceremonies.
• Trading and selling metalware, often linked to the Kanshabanik (merchant) community.

Since occupation was often hereditary in traditional Indian society, the surname Kansari became a marker of their profession.

• Found predominantly in West Bengal, India, and Bangladesh.
• Concentrated in regions known for metalwork and trade, such as Burdwan, Bankura, Howrah, Murshidabad, Dhaka, and Chattogram.
• With migration and modernization, many Kansari's have settled in cities and taken up various professions beyond metalworking.

• In modern times, very few families actively pursue traditional bronze and brass crafting.
• Many Kansari families have transitioned into business, engineering, medicine, and government jobs.
• Despite occupational shifts, the surname remains as a link to their ancestral trade.

The Kansari surname holds historical significance as an occupational identity of artisans who played a crucial role in Bengali society by producing essential metal goods. Though their traditional profession has declined, the legacy of the Kansari community continues through their surname and cultural heritage.

• Dhokra
• Karmakar