Nambiar(नम्बियार) means principal chief. This was a title given to some Nair landlords by Kings of Kerala in ancient times. Today this surname is used by many other communities too. Three main types of Nambiars today are Nair Nambiars, Bunt Nambiars/Samanthan Nambiars, Amabalavasi Nambiars and Amabalavasi Chengazhi Nambiars. Amabalavasis were temple servants. Kiriyathil Nair Nambiars have no relation with other Nambiars.
In Sociological Bulletin - Volume 7, Issue 1 it is mentioned that one of the sub-castes of Kiriyathil Nairs was Kiriyam Nambiar. That is the Kiriyathil Nairs who were given the title Nambiar.
Chengazhinadu was a region in Southern Malabar. It was ruled by a landlord who was popularly known as Shri.Chengazhi Nambiar. But his real name and Tharavadu name are not given in the historical texts. 'Chaver Paattukal' describe the brave deeds of the suicide squads of Valluvakonathiri and praise the sacrifice of heroes like Shri.Kandar Menon and Shri.Chengazhi Nambiar. Do not confuse Shri.Chengazhi Nambiar with Ambalavasi Chengazhi Nambiars. "Chengazhi Nambiar" is the name of a person who was a landlord and Ambalavasi Chengazhi Nambiar is the name of a community.
Shri.Muriyadathu Nambiar was one of the Nair chieftains in the kingdom of Cochin. The title Nambiar was given to him by the King. Once it so happened that there remained just one old woman in the family and she sent a request to the King HH Shri.Shakthan Thampuran that she wished to adopt a male as her successor and heir. The King had an eye for immense wealth of this family and coveting to possess all that for himself, he sent a quick reply to the woman, "After you make all arrangements towards the adoption ceremony and fix a date, inform me and I shall come there with the person you can adopt, but make sure that no other, but the very person I am bringing with me should be their heir."
Accordingly, the woman the woman made all arrangements for the adoption ceremony and after fixing the date they informed the King. At the appointed time, His Majesty came, accompanied by a boy and a girl who belonged to a Thampān's family. When the woman came to know that they belonged to the Thampān caste, a caste higher than Nairs, she was very happy.
The families of Erambala, Varikkara and Vengayil were initially Nambiars but were additionally dignified with the title Nayanār by an assembly of Chirakkal Raja and Brahmins. The Vengayil Nayanar family owned 200,000 acres (810 km2) including forest lands- Kallyat ;-They were one of the largest landlords of Malabar and owned 36,779 acres (148.84 km2) of land. The senior Nambiar of this family was styled Kalliat Eshamanan- Nambiar and Nayanars.
In the Cochin Census Report, 1901, it is stated that Nambiar is rather a misleading title, Some Nairs are known by that title. Chakkiyar Nambiyar always adds this title to 1 his name. In some places, Moothads(Moosads) and Elayads, who are actually Ambalavasis, are also called Nambiars.
Data were collected from Malabar Manual by Sir William Logan, History of Kerala by Sushri.R.Leela Devi, Aithihyamaala: The Garland of Legends' from Kerala by Shri.Kottaaraththil Sankunni Warrier and www.geni.com
In Sociological Bulletin - Volume 7, Issue 1 it is mentioned that one of the sub-castes of Kiriyathil Nairs was Kiriyam Nambiar. That is the Kiriyathil Nairs who were given the title Nambiar.
Chengazhinadu was a region in Southern Malabar. It was ruled by a landlord who was popularly known as Shri.Chengazhi Nambiar. But his real name and Tharavadu name are not given in the historical texts. 'Chaver Paattukal' describe the brave deeds of the suicide squads of Valluvakonathiri and praise the sacrifice of heroes like Shri.Kandar Menon and Shri.Chengazhi Nambiar. Do not confuse Shri.Chengazhi Nambiar with Ambalavasi Chengazhi Nambiars. "Chengazhi Nambiar" is the name of a person who was a landlord and Ambalavasi Chengazhi Nambiar is the name of a community.
Shri.Muriyadathu Nambiar was one of the Nair chieftains in the kingdom of Cochin. The title Nambiar was given to him by the King. Once it so happened that there remained just one old woman in the family and she sent a request to the King HH Shri.Shakthan Thampuran that she wished to adopt a male as her successor and heir. The King had an eye for immense wealth of this family and coveting to possess all that for himself, he sent a quick reply to the woman, "After you make all arrangements towards the adoption ceremony and fix a date, inform me and I shall come there with the person you can adopt, but make sure that no other, but the very person I am bringing with me should be their heir."
Accordingly, the woman the woman made all arrangements for the adoption ceremony and after fixing the date they informed the King. At the appointed time, His Majesty came, accompanied by a boy and a girl who belonged to a Thampān's family. When the woman came to know that they belonged to the Thampān caste, a caste higher than Nairs, she was very happy.
The families of Erambala, Varikkara and Vengayil were initially Nambiars but were additionally dignified with the title Nayanār by an assembly of Chirakkal Raja and Brahmins. The Vengayil Nayanar family owned 200,000 acres (810 km2) including forest lands- Kallyat ;-They were one of the largest landlords of Malabar and owned 36,779 acres (148.84 km2) of land. The senior Nambiar of this family was styled Kalliat Eshamanan- Nambiar and Nayanars.
In the Cochin Census Report, 1901, it is stated that Nambiar is rather a misleading title, Some Nairs are known by that title. Chakkiyar Nambiyar always adds this title to 1 his name. In some places, Moothads(Moosads) and Elayads, who are actually Ambalavasis, are also called Nambiars.
Data were collected from Malabar Manual by Sir William Logan, History of Kerala by Sushri.R.Leela Devi, Aithihyamaala: The Garland of Legends' from Kerala by Shri.Kottaaraththil Sankunni Warrier and www.geni.com
