The Nayak, or Naik is a historic Indian title conferred on military captains[1] and governors of feudal states in the Middle Ages. Today it is also a surname. Nayaks are mostly Hindu and few Sikhs, who follow Hinduism and Sikhism respectively.
In Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, other versions of the surnames exists such as Naidu. Used by people belonging to Velama, Kapu, Kamma, Telaga and Balija. In the Telugu castes such as the Balija, Golla and Kamma use the Naicker title.[7][8][9] Also in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana the Naik surname is adopted as a surname by several communities including Bedar.[10]
^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. ISBN978-0-19-563956-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
^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.
^Edgar Thurston, ed. (1909). Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume V of VII. Library of Alexandria. ISBN978-1-4655-8240-9. 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
^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.
