Nayak (title)
Nayak or Naik is a historic title conferred to Sardars, Governors of the feudatories in medieval times.
As a title
- Nayak title was given by Vijayanagara rulers to their feudatories, who later established themselves as independent kingdoms as Nayak kingdoms after the downfall of Vijayanagara Empire in South India.[1]
- Nayak title was given to the ministers of the Goan Kingdom.
- Naik title was conferred to the Hindu Sardars by rulers of Maratha Empire.[2]
- Naik title was used by the Raja's of Phaltan State.
- Even the British has adapted this title for their army personnel. Nayak was a title which was in force in Mysore especially for the army personnel of distinction.[3][self-published source]
As a surname
Today, the surname Naik or Nayak is used by various castes and ethnic groups across India[4] including by
- In Assam some members of the aboriginal Keot(Kaibarta) community use Nayak as their surname.
- In Goa and coastal parts of Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra, members of the Saraswat Brahman community(SB, GSB, RSB, etc) use this surname.
- In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Naik surname is adopted as surname by several tribal communities like Lambadis, Sugali, or Banjara.[5]
- The Muslim Siddis of Karnataka, use the surname Naik which they received as title from Bijapur Kings.[6]
- In Konkan coast of Goa and Maharashtra, Naik surname is used by Naik Marathas.[7]
- In Maharashtra Naik Surname is used by Marathas, CKP's, Chitpavan Brahmins, and Deshastha Brahmin communities.[8]
- In Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu, other versions of the surnames such as Naidu and Naicker are used by people belonging to Kapu, Balija, Telaga, and Kamma castes.[9]
- In Raigarh region of chhattisgarh surname is used by people belongs to aghariya cast also people of this group write Naik, Patel, Nayak and Choudhary.
See also
References
- ^ Kathleen Gough (2008). Rural Society in Southeast India. Cambridge University Press. p. 436. ISBN 9780521040198.
- ^ Shivaji, the Great Maratha, Volume 1. Genisys Publishing. 2002. p. 116. ISBN 9788177552850.
- ^ Anwar Haroon (2013). Kingdom of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan: Sultanat e Khudadad. Xlibris Corporation. p. 15. ISBN 9781483615363.
- ^ Kumar Suresh Singh (2002). People of India: Introduction. Oxford University Press. p. 54. ISBN 9780195644449.
- ^ Kumar Suresh Singh (1993). Tribal Ethnography, Customary Law, and Change. Concept Publishing Company. p. 249. ISBN 9788170224716.
- ^ Shanti Sadiq Ali (1996). The African Dispersal in the Deccan: From Medieval to Modern Times. Orient Blackswan. p. 226. ISBN 9788125004851.
- ^ Pra. Pā Śiroḍakara, H. K. Mandal (1993). People of India: Goa. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 225. ISBN 9788171547609.
- ^ Anupama Rao (2009). The Caste Question: Dalits and the Politics of Modern India. University of California Press. p. 315. ISBN 9780520257610.
- ^ A.Vijay Kumari. Social Change Among Balijas: Majority Community of Andhra Pradesh. M D Publications. p. 89. ISBN 9788175330726.