 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations .(August 2020) |
Nayakar, Nayakkar, Nayaker, Naikar, or Naicker is a title used in South India by a few Kannada, Tamil and Telugu speaking people, sometimes as a surname and in other cases as a caste affiliation. Naicker or Nayakar is the not same as Naidu. Naicker and Naidu are ethnically different people. Naidus being to the TuLuva dynasty, while the Naikers are of the original Vijayanagara empire founding dynasty of Sangamas. Nayakars once ruled Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana as local aristocrats, known as Poligars, when South India was split amongst various Nayaka dynasties following the turmoil of the Battle of Talikota. This title was historically bestowed upon vassals and army commanders of the Vijayanagara empire, [1] and is a Dravidianized derivative of the Sanskrit term Nāyaka. The title is closely related to Naidu, Nayudu, Nayaka and Nayak. In Telugu regions and Tamil Nadu, Naidu is often used by the Balija, Kapu, Velama, Vanniya Kula Kshatriya and Kamma castes. However Naiker surname belongs to Kuruba, Halumatha castes of Karnataka, Maharashtra and other regions. Naidu and Naiker are different castes. Nayaka is more of a generic surname implying a chieftan status.