Naidu

Naidu or Nayudu or Naidoo is a common title used by various social groups of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. It is also used in Karnataka and Orissa. It is a derivative of the Telugu word Nayakudu, meaning "leader." Naidu was the originally used title by people belonging to the Kapu/Telaga/Balijacaste e.x Col C. K. Naidu,Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu,Periyar(Kapu/Balija/Telaga) followed by Kamma or Velama caste, in Andhra Pradesh. Today, however, other Telugu speaking communities also use the titles Naidu in Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu e.x The Kammasand [[Gavara]Gavaras] use the title "Naidu," mainly in southern Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; eg. Nara Chandrababu Naidu,a Kamma.

"Naidu" is a title denoting a village or lineage headman, commander or governor and was granted by kings to those responsible for collecting taxes and maintaining law and order within a village. Eventually, by modern times, the title had been inherited by many, although they no longer were tax collectors or village leaders. It is a Telugu derivation of the Sanskrit Nayaka, meaning "protector," a title conferred upon the head of a band of soldiers.

Nayaka's origins can be traced to the Western Chalukyan expansion into Andhra country during the 7th Century. In Medieval times, the title Naidu was, initially, primarily associated with the Kapu,Talagas,Balijas,Velamas and Kammas who served as commanders under various Andhra dynasties like Chalukya, Kakatiya and later the Gavara,Mudiraj,Odeyar communities. During the expansion of the Vijayanagar kingdom (karnataka) into Southern India, the title was conferred upon other non-Telugu speaking communities who served as Commanders or Barons or Governors under the Vijayanagar emperors in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka-- hence the widespread usage of the surname Naidu among many non-Telugu speaking communities in states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Orissa.

Title usage

The word Naidu/Nayakudu (Nayaka, a leader or chief) is used by the older writers in southern India in several senses, of which the following example given by Yule and Burnell may be cited:

1. Native captain or headman
2. Title of honor among Hindus in the Deccan. "The kings of deccan also have a custom when they will honor a man or recompence their service done, and raise him to dignity and honor. They give him the title of Nayak." -Linschoten
3. The general name of the Kings of Vijayanagar.
4. Naik, Naickan, Naicker, Nayak or Nayakkan has been used by the Tamil Pallis, Vanniars, Irulas, Vedans, and also by various Kannada castes:

Telugu

According to Edgar Thurston (Castes and Tribes of Southern India Vol. 5; p.138) "Naidu" or "Nayudu" is a title used by many Telugu castes. In alphabetical order:

1. Gavara
2. Kalingi
3. Kamma
4. Kapu
5. Mudiraju
6. Reddy
7. Balija
8. Telaga
9. Uppiliya
10. Velama

Tulu

1. Mogers in some parts of South Canara prefer the title Naiker to the ordinary caste title of Marakaleru.
2. Some Bunts have the same title.

Others

1. The headman amongst the Lambadis is called Naik.
2. Naicker also occurs as a hereditary title in some Brahman families.
3. Naik, Naiko or Nayako appear as the title of various Oriya classes.

Tamil Nadu

In Tamil Nadu the title Naidu is used only by people of Telugu origins, whereas Tamil speaking communities like Balijas in Arcot district use the title Naicker. Both titles carry the same meaning.

Chennai

Naidus in Chennai are predominantly Kammas and Balija. However, some other Telugu communities also use the title.

Coimbatore

The communities that use Naidu are primarily the Kammas in Coimbatore District. Kamma Naidus are one of the largest communities in Coimbatore. Naicker is used by some other Telugu-speaking communities in the district.

Usage abroad

In South Africa a variant spelling Naidoo is used amongst its Telugu citizens. The usage does not denote Telugu ancestry any longer as intermarriage has diluted such identities. In Sri Lanka it is used amongst the Hill Country Tamils of Indian origin, and in Mauritius it is a common surname of Tamil populations. In Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana it is a surname of the broader Indian diaspora. In Malaysia it is used by Telugus to denote their Telugu ancestry.