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The Nayak, or Naik is a historic honorific 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.

As a title

Today, the surname Nayak is used by various castes and ethnic groups across India. Mostly they belong from forward class and mainly follows Sikhism and Hinduism.^[2]

Nayak, or Naik is a title used by Koli caste of Maharashtra. The Princely State of Jawhar was founded by a Koli Nayak Jayaba Mukne around 1300.^[3] The Maval region was known as Koli country of fifty two valleys in Maratha Empire. Each valley was controlled by a Koli Nayak and the Sirnayak, or head chief, lived at Junnar, and presided over the gotarni, or caste council.^[4] the Fort of Sinhagad was built and ruled by Koli chief Nag Nayak who resisted the Mughal Sultan Muhammad bin Tughluq for eight months.^[5] the Kolis of Maharashtra revolted against Mughal ruler Aurangzeb under their Koli chief Khemirao Sirnaik and in 1769, Kolis revolted against Peshwa of Maratha Empire under their Koli Naik Javji Bamble and broken the peace of Konkan and in 1798, Kolis challenged the Company under their Koli Naik Ramji Naik Bhangria who was father of freedom fighters Bapuji Bhangare and Raghoji Bhangare.^[6]
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]
The Muslim Siddis of Karnataka, use the surname Nayaka which they received as a title from the kings of Bijapur.^[11]
In Karnataka it is majorly used by Bedars alternately known as Palegar Nayakas (Palegars are feudal lords under Karnataka Empire) and other subcastes of the Brahmins, Namadhari Naik a subcaste of Vokkaliga etc.,^[12]^[13]^[14]
In Maharashtra the surname Nayak and Naik is used by Kshatriya Marathas, CKPs, Saraswat Brahmin and Deshastha Brahmin communities.^[15]

References

^ https://www.learnsanskrit.cc/translate?search=captain&dir=es ^{[bare URL]}
^ Kumar Suresh Singh (2002). People of India: Introduction. Oxford University Press. p. 54. ISBN 978-0-19-564444-9.
^ Hardiman, David (2007). Histories for the Subordinated. New Delhi, India: Seagull Books. pp. 103: the state of Jawhar, below the mountains in the Konkan, was founded by a Koli nayak around 1300. ISBN 978-1-905422-38-8.
^ 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. ISBN 978-0-19-563956-8.
^ Sharma, Himanshu (5 November 2019). Veer Tanhaji Malusare. New Delhi, India: Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-93-5296-955-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
^ Hassan, Syed Siraj ul (1989). The Castes and Tribes of H.E.H. the Nizam's Dominions. New Delhi, India: Asian Educational Services. p. 333. ISBN 978-81-206-0488-9.
^ A. Vijay Kumari (1998). Social Change Among Balijas: Majority Community of Andhra Pradesh. M D Publications. p. 89. ISBN 978-81-7533-072-6.
^ 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. ISBN 978-1-4655-8240-9. 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
^ Kumar Suresh Singh (1993). Ethnography, Customary Law, and Change. Concept Publishing Company. p. 249. ISBN 978-81-7022-471-6.
^ Shanti Sadiq Ali (1996). The African Dispersal in the Deccan: From Medieval to Modern Times. Orient Blackswan. p. 226. ISBN 978-81-250-0485-1.
^ "The Mysore Tribes and Castles".
^ 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.
^ Anupama Rao (2009). The Caste Question: Dalits and the Politics of Modern India. University of California Press. p. 315. ISBN 978-0-520-25761-0.