"Malik", is a prominent and big clan of "Jats". Lot of "Malik" in the past converted to Islam, many of whom are now in Pakistan. "Malik" family name is not only found in Indian subcontinent but also in "Europe".
- If you google "Fredmund Malik" or "Wittwulf Y Malik", you will find them in Europe and the ancestors of these individual "Maliks" have been living in Europe as far as they can trace their history. Similarly family names like "Gill" is often found in Europe.
A theory is being put forward by some individuals that the family name "Malik" comes from "Maalik". "Maalik" is an Arabic word which means "Owner" and the people of "Maalik"trace their ancestry to middle east or Arabic nations, which does not seem to be true.
"Jats" trace their ancesstry to central Asian tribes, which lived all the way from Siberia till North India at certain period of time mainly during the time period of "
Kurgan culture" and time before that. These tribes then migrated from central Asia to different parts of the world and the empty space left by them was filled by other nomadic tribes of Mongoloid origin. "Jat" family names follow "clan" system, which connects them to their tribal and ethnic links, that is why we see the same family names throughout Europe.
In "Jats", we have clan system and a thought that people of same "family name" are coming from common genetic roots. In this case the concept of "Maalik" does not hold true. "Malik" and "Maalik" are two very similar words with entirely different roots.
I was surprised that the wikipedia page for "Malik Jat Gotra" has disappeared from the web and only link to "Malik" that a person can find is in the form of definition of "Maalik" i.e. "owner" from Arabic view.
Jats are not very religious people but "Jats" of certain faiths are strongly advocating the fact that "Maliks" trace their ancestry to Arabic tribes.
Which it seems does not hold true.