Menon (subcaste)

Menon is a surname of the Nair community of Kerala, India, and is an honorific hereditary title, often used as an affix to one's name, bestowed by the various kings of Kerala (including the Zamorin) to the members of Nair subcastes.[1] The recipient of the title held it lifelong, and the male members of the family held it in perpetuity along the matrilineal line.

For other uses, see Menon (disambiguation).

Menon
Regions with significant populations
Kerala, mostly in the Malabar and Cochin regions
Languages
Malayalam
Religion
Hinduism

Historically, the Menons were feudal landlords or Naduvazis, and were often engaged in various administrative and political duties, such as being ministers, accountants and advisors in the service of the kings of Kerala. Many members of the Menon subcaste are related to the rulers of the Kingdom of Cochin. Furthermore, members of the Cochin royal family were often married to aristocratic Menon families. Thus, the children of such Maharajahs held the Menon title and passed it to subsequent generations.[2][3][4]

Many royal families also emerged from this subcaste. The famous Paliath Achans from the Paliam Royal family of Cochin,the Walluvanad royal family and the Shekhari Varmas of the Palakkad Royal family, all belong to this subcaste.[5][6]

References
  1. Fawcett, F. (1 February 2004). Nâyars of Malabar. Asian Educational Services. p. 238. ISBN 978-81-206-0171-0.
  2. Pradeep, K. (19 June 2015). "The story of a statue". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  3. Pradeep, K. (25 February 2017). "The dynamics of VRM's genius". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  4. "Cochin Royal Family Historical Society | Family History". 14 January 2009. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009.
  5. "The Paliath Achans of Cochin". Manu S Pillai. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  6. Krishnamachari, Suganthy (30 April 2020). "Inscriptions talk of fascinating Kongu connection". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
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