Unknown column in 'field list' error on MySQL Update query

Just sharing my experience on this. I was having this same issue. The insert or update statement is correct. And I also checked the encoding. The column does exist. Then! I found out that I was referencing the column in my Trigger. You should also check your trigger see if any script is referencing the column you are having the problem with.

Enclose any string to be passed to the MySQL server inside single quotes, e.g.:

$name = "my name"
$query = " INSERT INTO mytable VALUES ( 1 , '$name') "

Note that although the query is enclosed between double quotes, you must enclose any string in single quotes.

Try using different quotes for "y" as the identifier quote character is the backtick (`). Otherwise MySQL "thinks" that you point to a column named "y".

See also MySQL 8 Documentation

Please use double-/single quotes for values, strings, etc. Use backticks for column-names only.

You might check your choice of quotes (use double-/ single quotes for values, strings, etc and backticks for column-names).

Since you only want to update the table master_user_profile I'd recommend a nested query:

UPDATE
   master_user_profile
SET
   master_user_profile.fellow = 'y'
WHERE
   master_user_profile.user_id IN (
      SELECT tran_user_branch.user_id
      FROM tran_user_branch WHERE tran_user_branch.branch_id = 17);