The Bunts are a community found mainly in southern coastal Karnataka and bordering areas in Kerala (Tulu Nadu). The word Bunta in the Kannada language implies a soldier. This is derived from the Sanskrit word Bhata meaning powerful man or a warrior. The Tulu equivalent is Bunte or Bunter (plural), which means Protector.

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Bunts are mostly found in the present day Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannda, and Udupi districts of Karnataka, the Kasaragod district of Kerala and also in Mumbai and Bengaluru.

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The southern Bunts inhabiting Dakshina Kannada, northern Kasaragod, Udupi, and Karkala taluks of Udupi district are called Tuluva Bunts and primarily speak Tulu. Bunts from the northern parts, residing in northern Udupi district, Kundapura, southern parts of Uttara Kannada are called Nada Bunts and they speak a dialect known as Kundagannada.