Patni caste
The Patni caste is one of the oldest and most common surnames in Uttarakhand. It is believed to have originated from the Rajputs, a group of warrior clans who ruled northern India during the medieval period. The Patnis are also known as (upper) Thakurs or Rajputs in other parts of the country. Patni (पाटनी) surname also belongs to Brahmins of the gotra Upamanyu. History 
Patni caste is linked to many religions like Jainism, Hinduism and Islam . In Jainism Patni's are Richest gotra in digamber Jain and are majorly located in Rajasthan. The main occupation of Patnis include ferrying boats, basket-making, trading and cultivating. According to Patnis folklore Ishwari Patni ferries Goddess Annapurna on his boat, also mentioned by Bharatchandra. Patnis are also called Nadiyal and they mainly lived in Sylhet, Dacca, etc. and migrated towards districts of Assam, West Bengal and Manipur.In some parts of India such as Uttarakhand the Patni (पाटनी) caste is related to the Bhramin community of Upmanyu gotra

Present Circumstances 
Total population of Patni community in Assam is around 136,661 which accounts for 8.2 percent of the Scheduled Caste population of state. But some Patni (पाटनी) belongs to a prestigious families in Uttarakhand because they are  Upper caste Thakurs & bhramins of Upmanyu gotra

Notable Patnis 

 Nibaran Chandra Laskar, member of the constituent assembly and former MP
 Nihar Ranjan Laskar, former MP from Assam

References 

Scheduled Castes of Assam