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Pillai (surname)

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Pillai, Pillay, Pulle or Pilli is a popular title of Tamil and Malayalam speaking people of India and others living in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, Fiji (See Tamil diaspora and Sri Lankan Tamils) mostly from vallalar and nair communities.

Though it started as a Hindu title, today Pillais are found amongst Muslims and Christians, as surnames and first name.

Tamil Nadu usage

In Tamil Nadu this title or surname is predominantly used by Vellala caste population among the Tamil descent population, and the Nair caste population of the Malayalam speaking immigrant population, quite a few other castes also use this title. In down south Tamil Nadu, in Thirunelveli and Kanyakumari, those who are very concerned about their vegetarian status called them Saiva Pillai. The Elur Chetty community in South Tamilnadu and Kerala also uses this surname.

Variant spelling

South African Tamils use Pillay spelling where as some Sri Lankan castes (but not all) use the Pulle or Pilli as well as the Pillai spelling.

Kerala usage

Among the Nairs of Kerala Pillai is a title of nobility given to feudal lords and senior military officers. A major example is of the Ettuveetil Pillamar or eight Pillai families who were great feudal Lords . Holders of Thirumukom were only called Pillai. Thirumukom was the title one step below Thirumanas which meant 'high soul' and was used by Royal Rajahs. Thirumukom meant 'high face'. Pillai is the Travancore counterpart for the title of Menon of the Kingdom of Cochin.

Although generally they suffixed Pillai to their name, in formal communications, like those of the court etc, Pillais were always addressed by prefixing Kanakku Raman to the name and suffixing Thirumukom. For example, Krishnan Pillai would be formally addressed as Kanakku Raman Krishnan Thirumukom.

Andhra Pradesh usage

Gavara community uses Pilla as a title, Aaraama Dravidulu community uses Chellapilla as a title. In South kerala, vallalar and nair communities were used Chella pilla and Chellamma pilla tittles to represent high social status.

Dravillu community uses Pilla

List of castes using Pillai title

  • Agamudaiyar
  • Nair
  • Thampi
  • Elur Chetty
  • Illathupillai
  • Isai Vellalar
  • Karai Kattu Pillai
  • Karkartha Saiva Karkatha Vellalar
  • Karuneegar
  • Nangudi Vellalar
  • Nanjil Nattu Vellalar
  • Saiva Pillai
  • Saiva Vellalar
  • Seer Karuneegar
  • Senaithalaivar
  • Siva Vellalar
  • Sozhia Vellalar
  • Thondai Mandala velalar
  • Thuluva Vellalar
  • Tirunelvelli, Saiva Pillai
  • Veerakodi Vellalar
  • Vellalar
  • Yadava

History of the title

Historically used throughout the medieval period as an honorific title bestowed on high functionaries serving in various royal courts in south India. Although traditionally bestowed on members of high status and aristocratic castes the name became adopted as a surname by a broad layer of the Tamil peasantry during the 19th and 20th century. With the extension of tenancy rights, the growth of the market economy and with new opportunities for middle class employment, members of cultivator communities, starting with the Vellalar peasantry, began adopting the name as both a form of upward social mobility and as a means of differentiating themselves from the broader peasantry.

Throughout the last two centuries the name became increasingly adopted as a surname by broader layers of the lower-middle and lower strata Tamil peasantry for purposes of social mobility including by those communities considered historically oppressed (See Maravar and Adi Dravida). The phenomena was particularly notable amongst members of the Tamil diaspora in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, Fiji, a diaspora created in part by the export of indentured agricultural labour at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century.

Amongst some Tamil communities the name is also now used as a caste name or signifier, though without any real historical basis. The use of a similar surname in Kerala is of different historical origins.

See also

Some prominent Pillais

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