There are several possible etymologies for Lodha. According to Nesfield (1885), ‘Lodha’ signifies ‘clod-breaker’, being derived from lod, a clod of earth, and hda meaning breaker. Another theory holds that they derived their name from the Lodh tree, (Symplocos racemosa) which in Sanskrit is known as Lodhara, a medicinal plant whose bark was collected by the Lodha of Northern India and sold or gathered to make dye. The yellow dye, extracted from its bark and leaves, was used to dye cloths.The Lodha of Punjab has not been listed by the State Government as DNT/NT/SNT. According to historical evidence, they were a nomadic tribe who existed 1500 years ago and had wandered in the forests of the North-West Provinces and practiced ancient agriculture. They have physical features resembling indigenous tribes and a territory of their own and the lodh tree as their totem. They migrated to places and got hold of lands and eventually became landlords of Central Provinces like the Gonds. They had years of struggle with the British and were enlisted as criminal tribes which defamed them and brought disgrace to their community when tagged ‘born criminals’. Thus, they remained socially, educationally, and economically a backward class. They were included as Other Backward Classes in some States. The stigma continued and they were forced to migrate to different states for livelihood.
