Nayak (title)

Nayak is a historical surname primarily found among Sikhs and Hindus, especially those with ancestral links to warrior or military lineages in the Indian subcontinent. Derived from the ancient Sanskrit word Nāyaka, meaning leader or hero, the surname was originally associated with Kshatriya captains who led successful military campaigns, ^[1] upon achieving a successful military expedition in various feudal states of the Indian subcontinent, as a derivative of the ancient Sanskrit word Nāyaka.^[2] Nayak's were often granted rewards such as palayam, jagir, or zamindars land holdings carved out of newly annexed territories. Over time, their descendants adopted Nayak as a hereditary surname, symbolizing leadership and valor. While the surname is most commonly used by Sikhs and Hindus, it is also seen in regional variants such as Nayakar, Nayakan, Naicker (Tamil), Nayakudu,, Naidu (Telugu), and Nair (Malayalam). The modern Indian Army rank of "Naik" and its use in popular cinema (e.g., Katha Nayagan and Kathanayakudu) reflect its enduring legacy. At its core, Nayak is a surname that signifies martial heritage and leadership, primarily among Sikh and Hindu communities.^[3]

As a title

Today, the title is primarily used by Sikhs and Hindus, and also by various other castes and ethnic groups across India as a matter of tradition and custom.

Nayak and Naik are surnames used by Koli caste of Maharashtra. The Princely State of Jawhar was founded by a Koli Nayak Jayaba Mukne around 1300.^[4] The Maval region was known as Koli country of fifty two valleys in Maratha Confederacy. Each valley was controlled by a Koli Nayak and the Sirnayak, or head chief, lived at Junnar, and presided over the gotarni, or caste council.^[5] the Fort of Sinhagad was built and ruled by Koli chief Nag Nayak who resisted the Sultan Muhammad bin Tughluq for eight months.^[6] the Kolis of Maharashtra revolted against Mughal ruler Aurangzeb under their Koli chief Khemirao Sirnaik and in 1769, Kolis revolted against Peshwa of Maratha Confederacy under their Koli Naik Javji Bamble and broken the peace of Konkan and in 1798, Kolis challenged the Company under their Koli Naik Ramji Naik Bhangria who was father of freedom fighters Bapuji Bhangare and Raghoji Bhangare.^[7]
In Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, the Naik and Nayak versions are used by people belonging to Lambadi and Banjara social groups. Naicker and Naidu titles are also used by Telugu castes, such as Balija, Golla and Kamma.^[8]^[9]^[10] Also in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the Naik surname is adopted as a surname by other communities, including Bedar.^[11]
The Muslim Siddis of Karnataka, use the surname Nayaka which they received as a title from the kings of Bijapur.^[12]
In Karnataka it is used by some subcastes of the Vokkaliga, Namadhari Naik communities.^[13]^[14]^[15]
In Maharashtra the surname Nayak and Naik is used by Kshatriya Marathas, CKPs, Saraswat Brahmin and Deshastha Brahmin communities.^[16]
Nayakkar, Naidu or Naicker is also a surname used by Kannada, Tamil and Telugu speaking people, in some cases as a caste affiliation. Naicker, also spelt as Nayakar, is the Tamil equivalent for the Telugu Naidu and the Sanskrit Nayaka. This title was historically bestowed upon army commanders of the Vijayanagara empire who once ruled present-day Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana as Nayakas and Poligars. Many places in Tamil Nadu, which were once fortified palayams like Palayamkottai that were ruled by the local Nayak poligar, have portmanteau names prefixed by the original ruling poligar's patronymic followed by "naicken and "palayam", such as Narasimhanaickenpalayam, Kamanaicken Palayam, and Thimmanayakanpalayam.

As a surname

Naicker has also been adapted as a surname among the Indian diaspora in South Africa.

Notable people with the surname include:

George Naicker (1919–1998), South African anti-apartheid activist^[17]
Marimuthu Pragalathan Naicker (1920 – 29 April 1977), South African journalist, anti-apartheid activist and trade unionist^[18]
Monty Naicker (1910–1978), South African anti-apartheid activist; president of the Natal Indian Congress (NIC) and president of the South African Indian Congress (SAIC)^[19]
Sherwyn Naicker (born 1991), South African soccer player^[20]

References

^ "Sanskrit - Dictionary". Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
^ "Search results for nAyaka". www.learnsanskrit.cc.
^ Kumar Suresh Singh (2002). People of India: Introduction. Oxford University Press. p. 54. ISBN 978-0-19-564444-9.
^ Hardiman, David (2007). Histories for the Subordinated. New Delhi, India: Seagull Books. pp. 103: the state of Jawhar, below the mountains in the Konkan, was founded by a Koli nayak around 1300. ISBN 978-1-905422-38-8.
^ Hardiman, David; Hardiman, Professor of History David (1996). Feeding the Baniya: Peasants and Usurers in Western India. New Delhi, India: Oxford University Press. pp. 221: The Koli country was then known as the Bavan Mavals, or '52 valleys ' in Maratha Empire . Each valley was controlled by a Koli chief, or nayak . The sirnayak, or head chief, lived at Junnar, and presided over the gotarni, or caste council. ISBN 978-0-19-563956-8.
^ Sharma, Himanshu (5 November 2019). Veer Tanhaji Malusare. New Delhi, India: Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-93-5296-955-5.
^ Hassan, Syed Siraj ul (1989). The Castes and Tribes of H.E.H. the Nizam's Dominions. New Delhi, India: Asian Educational Services. p. 333. ISBN 978-81-206-0488-9.
^ A. Vijay Kumari (1998). Social Change Among Balijas: Majority Community of Andhra Pradesh. M D Publications. p. 89. ISBN 978-81-7533-072-6.
^ Journal of Indian History - Volume 85. Department of History, University of Kerala. 2006. p. 181. Naidu is a title assumed by a number of Telugu castes such as Balija, Bestha, Boya, Ekari, Gavara, Golla, Kaingi, Kamma, Kapu, Mutracha and Velama. They had migrated from Telugu country during the Vijayanagar rule.
^ Thurston, Edgar (2020) [1909]. Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume V of VII. Assisted by K. Rangachari. Library of Alexandria. ISBN 978-1-4655-8240-9. Naidu.— Naidu or Nāyudu is a title, returned at times of census by many Telugu classes, e.g., Balija, Bestha, Bōya, Ēkari, Gavara, Golla, Kālingi, Kāpu, Mutrācha, and Velama. A Tamilian, when speaking of a Telugu person bearing this title, would call him Naicker or Naickan instead of Naidu
^ Kumar Suresh Singh (1993). Ethnography, Customary Law, and Change. Concept Publishing Company. p. 249. ISBN 978-81-7022-471-6.
^ Shanti Sadiq Ali (1996). The African Dispersal in the Deccan: From Medieval to Modern Times. Orient Blackswan. p. 226. ISBN 978-81-250-0485-1.
^ "The Mysore Tribes and Castles".
^ L. K. A. Iyer (2005). The Mysore Tribes and Castes. Vol. 3. New Delhi: Mittal Publications. p. 270. Gauda and Naika are the titles affixed to their names, and the common honorific suffixes Appa and Ayya for males and Avva and Akka for females are also in use
^ B. N. Sri Sathyan, ed. (1975). Karnataka State Gazetteer: Shimoga (PDF). Karnataka (India): Director of Print., Stationery and Publications at the Government Press. p. 102. Some Vokkaliga families also have surnames like Nayak and Heggade in this district.
^ Anupama Rao (2009). The Caste Question: Dalits and the Politics of Modern India. University of California Press. p. 315. ISBN 978-0-520-25761-0.
^ "George Naicker". South African History Online. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
^ Pillay, Thumba (17 June 2015). "Unsung struggle icon". Post South Africa. Retrieved 12 February 2025 – via PressReader
^ Houston, Gregory (9 February 2021), "22 Monty Naicker: Passive resister", The Fabric of Dissent, Lynne Rienner Publishers, pp. 130–134, doi:10.1515/9781928246619-025/html?lang=en, ISBN 978-1-928246-61-9, retrieved 20 July 2025
^ "Summary - S. Naicker - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 20 July 2025.

[1] "Sanskrit - Dictionary". Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2025.

[2] "Search results for nAyaka". www.learnsanskrit.cc.

[3] Kumar Suresh Singh (2002). People of India: Introduction. Oxford University Press. p. 54. ISBN 978-0-19-564444-9.

[4] Hardiman, David (2007). Histories for the Subordinated. New Delhi, India: Seagull Books. pp. 103: the state of Jawhar, below the mountains in the Konkan, was founded by a Koli nayak around 1300. ISBN 978-1-905422-38-8.

[5] Hardiman, David; Hardiman, Professor of History David (1996). Feeding the Baniya: Peasants and Usurers in Western India. New Delhi, India: Oxford University Press. pp. 221: The Koli country was then known as the Bavan Mavals, or '52 valleys ' in Maratha Empire . Each valley was controlled by a Koli chief, or nayak . The sirnayak, or head chief, lived at Junnar, and presided over the gotarni, or caste council. ISBN 978-0-19-563956-8.

[6] Sharma, Himanshu (5 November 2019). Veer Tanhaji Malusare. New Delhi, India: Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-93-5296-955-5.

[7] Hassan, Syed Siraj ul (1989). The Castes and Tribes of H.E.H. the Nizam's Dominions. New Delhi, India: Asian Educational Services. p. 333. ISBN 978-81-206-0488-9.

[8] A. Vijay Kumari (1998). Social Change Among Balijas: Majority Community of Andhra Pradesh. M D Publications. p. 89. ISBN 978-81-7533-072-6.

[9] Journal of Indian History - Volume 85. Department of History, University of Kerala. 2006. p. 181. Naidu is a title assumed by a number of Telugu castes such as Balija, Bestha, Boya, Ekari, Gavara, Golla, Kaingi, Kamma, Kapu, Mutracha and Velama. They had migrated from Telugu country during the Vijayanagar rule.

[10] Thurston, Edgar (2020) [1909]. Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume V of VII. Assisted by K. Rangachari. Library of Alexandria. ISBN 978-1-4655-8240-9. Naidu.— Naidu or Nāyudu is a title, returned at times of census by many Telugu classes, e.g., Balija, Bestha, Bōya, Ēkari, Gavara, Golla, Kālingi, Kāpu, Mutrācha, and Velama. A Tamilian, when speaking of a Telugu person bearing this title, would call him Naicker or Naickan instead of Naidu

[11] Kumar Suresh Singh (1993). Ethnography, Customary Law, and Change. Concept Publishing Company. p. 249. ISBN 978-81-7022-471-6.

[12] Shanti Sadiq Ali (1996). The African Dispersal in the Deccan: From Medieval to Modern Times. Orient Blackswan. p. 226. ISBN 978-81-250-0485-1.

[13] "The Mysore Tribes and Castles".

[14] L. K. A. Iyer (2005). The Mysore Tribes and Castes. Vol. 3. New Delhi: Mittal Publications. p. 270. Gauda and Naika are the titles affixed to their names, and the common honorific suffixes Appa and Ayya for males and Avva and Akka for females are also in use

[15] B. N. Sri Sathyan, ed. (1975). Karnataka State Gazetteer: Shimoga (PDF). Karnataka (India): Director of Print., Stationery and Publications at the Government Press. p. 102. Some Vokkaliga families also have surnames like Nayak and Heggade in this district.

[16] Anupama Rao (2009). The Caste Question: Dalits and the Politics of Modern India. University of California Press. p. 315. ISBN 978-0-520-25761-0.

[17] "George Naicker". South African History Online. Retrieved 20 July 2025.

[18] Pillay, Thumba (17 June 2015). "Unsung struggle icon". Post South Africa. Retrieved 12 February 2025 – via PressReader

[19] Houston, Gregory (9 February 2021), "22 Monty Naicker: Passive resister", The Fabric of Dissent, Lynne Rienner Publishers, pp. 130–134, doi:10.1515/9781928246619-025/html?lang=en, ISBN 978-1-928246-61-9, retrieved 20 July 2025

[20] "Summary - S. Naicker - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 20 July 2025.

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Nayak (title)

As a title

As a surname

See also

References