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{{for|the title|Pillai (Kerala title)}}
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'''Pillai''' or '''Pillay''' is a surname found among the [[Malayalam]] and [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-speaking people of India and [[Sri Lanka]].
{{AI-generated|date=November 2025}}
'''Pillai''' or '''Pillay''', ({{IPA|ml|piɭːai̯|IPA|}}) meaning "Child of King" (Prince) or "Child",<ref name=":3"/> is a surname or title found among the [[Malayalam]] and [[Tamil language|Tamil]] speaking people of [[India]] and [[Sri Lanka]].


== Origin ==
In [[Kerala]], Pillai is the most common title among [[Nair|upper-caste Nairs]],<ref>a Kshatriya (Pillai Ilampel Pandarathil mentioned in Mark de Lannoy Kulasekhara Perumals of Travancore, Page 6 at para2</ref><ref name=":13"/> often bestowed by the ruling [[Samantha Kshatriya|royal families of Kerala]]<ref name=":13">{{Cite book |last=Shungoonny Menon |first=P. |title=History of Travancore from the earliest times |date=1998 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=978-81-206-0169-7 |edition=2nd AES repr. [d.Ausg.] Madras, Higginbotham, 1878 |location=New Delhi}}</ref> and less commonly found among [[Brahmin|some Brahmins]],<ref>a Brahmin (Pillai Idathara Potti) mentioned in Mark de Lannoy, Kulasekhara Perumals of Travancore, Page 6 at para2</ref> [[Saint Thomas Christians|Nazrani Mappila]] and [[Marar (caste)|Marars of Travancore]].<ref name=":13"/><ref>{{Cite book |title=A handbook of Kerala. 2 |date=2002 |publisher=International School of Dravidian Linguistics |isbn=978-81-85692-31-9 |edition=1st |location=Thiruvananthapuram}}</ref>
The term ''Pillai''  literally means "Prince" in English, "Rajput" in Hindi. <ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GrzaAAAAMAAJ|title=Annales Academiae Scientiarum Fennicae|last=Conference|first=Association of South Asian Archaeologists in Western Europe International|last2=Parpola|first2=Asko|date=1994|publisher=Suomalainen Tiedeakatemia|isbn=9789514107290|pages=580|language=en}}</ref> [[Tamil inscriptions]] define the direct meaning of Pillai as "Child of King" (prince), denoting nobility.<ref>{{cite book |title=Indian Epigraphical Dictionary |page=166 |isbn=9788120805620 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pySCGvdyYLIC&pg=PA166|last1=Sircar |first1=Dineschandra |year=1966 }}</ref> The title occur both as a single name or as a [[Suffix (name)|suffix]] to the name. It is the primary title of [[Vellalars]]. It is also used by [[Nairs]]
<ref> {{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=73msCkfD5V8C|title=Caste, Nationalism and Ethnicity: An Interpretation of Tamil Cultural History and Social Order|last=Pandian|first=Jacob|date=1987|publisher=Popular Prakashan|isbn=9780861321360|pages=110|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=University|first=Vijaya Ramaswamy, Jawaharlal Nehru|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ALUvDwAAQBAJ|title=Historical Dictionary of the Tamils|date=2017-08-25|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=9781538106860|pages=268|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Pfister|first=Raymond|url=https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=TJHYAAAAMAAJ|title=Soixante ans de pentecôtisme en Alsace (1930-1990): une approche socio-historique|date=1995|publisher=P. Lang|isbn=9783631486207|pages=166|language=en}}</ref>


== People ==
In [[Tamil Nadu]], it is a most common surname among various [[Vellalar|high-ranking Vellalar subcastes]].{{Efn|1=The term "Vellalar" is a generic term for a group of high ranking Non-brahmin castes in TamilNadu<ref name="Peterson 2014 p. 355">{{cite book | last=Peterson | first=I.V. | title=Poems to Siva: The Hymns of the Tamil Saints | publisher=Princeton University Press | series=Princeton Library of Asian Translations | year=2014 | isbn=978-1-4008-6006-7 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kQwABAAAQBAJ&q=vellala+high+ranking&pg=PA355 |access-date=16 February 2025  | page=45,355}}</ref>}}<ref name=":22">{{Cite book |last=Pandian |first=Jacob |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=73msCkfD5V8C |title=Caste, Nationalism and Ethnicity: An Interpretation of Tamil Cultural History and Social Order |date=1987 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |isbn=9780861321360 |pages=110 |language=en}}</ref> It is less commonly found among some other Tamil-speaking castes, including [[Isai Vellalar]], [[Agamudayar]], etc.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pfister |first=Raymond |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TJHYAAAAMAAJ |title=Soixante ans de pentecôtisme en Alsace (1930-1990): une approche socio-historique |date=1995 |publisher=P. Lang |isbn=9783631486207 |pages=166 |language=en}}</ref> A minority population of Tamil Pillais have migrated and can be found in some parts of Kerala and [[Karnataka]].
 
''In general, the concept of "[[Pillai (Kerala title)|the Pillai title of Kerala]]" and "[[Pillai (Vellalar)|the Pillai surname of Tamilnadu]]" have two different meanings and no direct relation with each other.''<ref>{{cite book|last=Doe|first=John|title=Historical Dictionary of the Tamils|publisher=Publisher Name|year=2020|page=268|isbn=978-1-5381-0686-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ALUvDwAAQBAJ&q=vellala+pillai}}</ref>
 
== Etymology and origin ==
According to epigraphic records, Pillai is an ancient title back to the Sangam Era that was used as a suffix and given to junior members of the royal family.<ref>See inscription at Kannankara temple, Trivandrum District. Quoted as Inscription 9/60 in P. Sundaram Pillai's Some Early Sovereigns of Travancore. Page 40-41 He makes the observation that they were in his opinion not men in the royal service.</ref> Originally a title meaning "royal child" or "Child of King" (prince), denoting nobility.<ref name=":3">{{cite book |last1=Sircar |first1=Dineschandra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pySCGvdyYLIC&pg=PA166 |title=Indian Epigraphical Dictionary |year=1966 |isbn=9788120805620 |page=166|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. }}</ref> The title occurs both as a single name or as a suffix to the name, it came to be given to administrators of temples; often holding large estates on behalf of the latter.<ref name=MDL202>Mark de Lannoy,Kulasekhara Perumals of Travancore, Page 202</ref>
 
Early English records also address these hereditary ruling chiefs as the princes of Kerala ranking below the monarch. The most well known are the Pillais of the [[Pillai (Kerala title)|Eight Nair Noble Houses]], the [[Ettuveettil Pillamar]] of [[Travancore]].<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite book | first=Lena | last=More | title=English East India Company and the local rulers in Kerala | year=2003 | publisher=Institute for Research in Social Sciences and Humanities | isbn=8188432040 }}</ref><ref name=":13"/>
 
=== Pillais of Kerala ===
In Kerala, the usage of the Pillai surname began with the royal family of Kerala. "Pillai" traditionally signifies a child of a [[royal family]] or [[prince]]. Pillai is a surname reserved for junior members of the [[Samantha Kshatriya|Kerala royal family]] who are descendants of Survyanshi and Chandravanshi Kshatriyas.
 
In the 12th century, with the formation of the Kulashekara Kingdom based in [[Kollam]] (later known as [[Venadu kingdom]]), the culture of Pillai nomenclature underwent significant changes. The Kulashekara Kings started using Pilla as an honorific title for their chieftains and lords, rather than members of the royal family. Members of the royal family now have a uniformed surname - [[Varma (surname)|Varma]], while children of the King who are not part of the royal family (due to the following of Marumakathayam laws where lineage moves via females of the house), their surname shall be [[Thampi and Thankachi|Thampi and Thangachi.]]<ref name="MDL202" />
 
During the Venad era, [[Pillai (Kerala title)|Pillai]] was the title given to [[Nair|Nair Landlords]] and Provincial governors, and those who had taxation power over [[Central Division (Travancore)|Quilon]] and [[Thiruvananthapuram district|Trivandrum]] regions. The most famous among them being the [[Ettuveetil Pillamar|Ettuveetil Pillaimar]]. Gradually, it became one of the common surnames of the highest echelon of Nairs, who were mostly referred to as [[Madampi (Nair title)|Madambi]] or barons. These Nairs had the right to use the Pillai surname for all their family members.<ref name=":13"/>
 
However, with the formation of the [[Travancore|Travancore Kingdom]], the concept of Pilla underwent significant changes under the reign of Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma Maharaja, who centralized the rule of Travancore. The Pillai surname was given to those who were part of the Royal service, which includes advisors, bureaucrats, administrators, military commanders, etc., most of whom were of [[Nair]] and [[Malayali Brahmin|Brahmin]] origin.<ref name=":13"/><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Irschick |first1=Eugene F. |last2=Jeffrey |first2=Robin |date=1977 |title=The Decline of Nayar Dominance. Society and Politics in Travancore, 1847-1908. |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2756149 |journal=Pacific Affairs |volume=50 |issue=1 |pages=150 |doi=10.2307/2756149 |jstor=2756149 |issn=0030-851X|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
 
The [[Pillai (Kerala title)|Pillai]] surname of [[Venadu kingdom]] and [[Travancore]] is fully reserved for [[Kshatriya|savarna subjects]], most of whom are equivalent to Kshatriyas and Brahmins in the northern caste system. It's important to note that the caste system in Kerala differs from that in other parts of India.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Devasahayam |first=M. G. |date=2022-07-11 |title=Saint Devasahayam's anti-caste struggle angered Brahmins and Nairs, not his conversion |url=https://theprint.in/opinion/saint-devasahayams-anti-caste-struggle-angered-brahmins-and-nairs-not-his-conversion/1033774/ |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>
 
=== Pillais of Tamilnadu ===
Pillai or Pillay,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mallampalli |first=Chandra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CCsbyg90fXgC&dq=pillay+vellalar&pg=PA65 |title=Race, Religion and Law in Colonial India: Trials of an Interracial Family |date=2011-11-21 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-139-50507-9 |language=en}}</ref> is an ancient Tamil word meaning "child" or "younger ones." In the [[Chola dynasty|Chola court]], a specific group of Vellalars had a dispute over rights to certain land, with one faction claiming based on seniority, referred to as [[Mudaliar]], meaning "first one" and the other based on tenancy rights, referred to as Pillaiyar, meaning "younger one".,<ref name=":22"/> which also meaning "Child of Parvati" ([[Parvati|Parvati Devi]]),<ref>{{cite book | last = Arunachalam | first = M. | year = 1964 | title = The Vellalar: A study of their origin and history | publisher = University of Madras | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Vp_la9QMGIQC&q=vellalar&pg=PA204 }}</ref>
 
The plural form of "Pillai" is "Pillaimar", which transforms into "Pillaiyār" when the plural suffix is replaced by an honorific suffix. This transformation has led to semantic confusion, as the term "Pillaiyār" is also a common reference to the god [[Ganesha]] in Tamil tradition. While this linguistic overlap exists, the two usages are contextually distinct: one referring to the plural or honorific form of "Pillai," and the other to the deity.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Proceedings of the First International Conference Seminar of Tamil Studies |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B-4sAQAAIAAJ&q=pillaimar |date=1966 |publisher=International Association of Tamil Research}}</ref>
 
Vellalar, a dominant landowning caste in Tamil society, possess a unique origin myth that emphasizes their elevated status and connection to [[divine|divine purity]]. This myth finds its roots in a symbolic pun that intertwines their [[cultural identity]] with their [[socio-economic]] role. The Vellalar claim to be the "children" (Pillai) of the [[goddess Parvati]], a revered deity in [[Hindu mythology]]. According to tradition, this divine lineage underscores the Vellalar’s purity, which is considered essential for the fertility of the land and the prosperity of the territories under their command.
 
The term Pillai, central to their origin narrative, carries dual connotations. On one hand, it reflects the notion of divine parentage, as the "children" of Parvati. On the other hand, Pillai is also a lordly title historically associated with landowning castes in southern Tamil Nadu, a region from which the majority of the Vellalar are believed to have originated.<ref>{{cite book | last = Arunachalam | first = M. | year = 1964 | title = The Vellalar: A study of their origin and history | publisher = University of Madras | url = https://books.google.co.inbooksid=Vp_la9QMGIQC&pg=PA204&dq=pillai+vellalar&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjlmrylzdaKAxWRSGwGHcE2GYY4FBDoAXoECAoQAw#v=onepage&q=vellalar&f=false}}</ref>
As recorded by Arunachalam (1964), a branch of the Vellalar, who were traditionally regarded as the ruling caste of Tamil Nadu, claimed to have received grain and agricultural knowledge from the Earth Goddess Parvati. This divine gift of sustenance and skill is cited as the foundation of their identity as both the cultivators of food and the rulers of the land. To emphasize their importance, the Vellalar assert that they are creators of life itself, given their central role in food production.<ref>{{cite book |last=Arunachalam |first=K. |title=The Land and People of Tamil Nadu |publisher=Vikas Publishing House |year=1964 |page=204 |isbn=978-3-11-080775-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vp_la9QMGIQC&q=vellalar&pg=PA204}}</ref>
 
While primarily associated with the Vellalar caste, The surname has also been adopted by some castes in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka as a means of social upliftment, including the [[Konar (caste)|Konar]], [[Agamudaiyar]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Smith|first=John|title=Caste, Nationalism, and Ethnicity|publisher=Publisher Name|year=2020|page=113|isbn=978-0-86132-136-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=73msCkfD5V8C&dq=pillai+vellalar&pg=PA113}}</ref> [[Isai Vellalar]] and some other caste. These surnames have been considered markers of elevated social status and cultural identity in the respective communities.{{Efn|1=To be a Vellala in Tamil agrarian society meant an ancient entitlement to superior social status. Caste, therefore, legitimised eco- nomic entitlement. It was not enough to have entitlements over resources; it was also necessary, in the Tamil agrarian social order, to have these entitlements legitimised through Vellala status, or at least a Vellala honorific.{{sfnp|Meanings of agriculture : essays in South Asian history and economics|p=349}}}}
 
== Notable Tamil Pillais ==
Notable people with this surname or its variants include:
Notable people with this surname or its variants include:
 
<!-- PLEASE ONLY ADD PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEIR OWN ARTICLE ON WIKIPEDIA. -->
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[[File:Champakraman Pillai.jpg|thumb|"Champakraman Pillai" Indian freedom fighter.|261x261px]]
* [[ Ashan Pillai]], Violist and Professor, British citizen born in Srilanka (1969)
[[File:Venkatarama Ramalingam Pillai 1989 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|Venkatarama Ramalingam Pillai 1989 stamp of India|233x233px]]
* [[A. R. Pillai]], Indian freedom fighter
* [[Ashan Pillai]] (born in Sri Lanka, 1969), British violist and academic
* Dr. [[Anton Sebastianpillai]], author and consultant geriatrician, who died of [[COVID-19]], contracted while treating elderly patients, in April 2020 in London, England
* [[Anton Sebastianpillai]] (1944/5–2020), author and consultant geriatrician
* [[Ananda Ranga Pillai]] (1709–61), dubash in the service of [[French East India Company]]
* [[Ananda Ranga Pillai]] (1709–1761), [[dubash]] in the service of [[French Indies Company|French East India Company]]
* [[Ariranga Pillay]] (born 1945), former Chief Justice and briefly Acting President of Mauritius
* [[Ariranga Pillay]] (born 1945), former Chief Justice and briefly Acting President of Mauritius
* [[Arumuka Navalar]], born as Kandarpillai Arumugapillai, a [[Sri Lanka|Sri Lankan]] Hindu reformer
* [[Arumuka Navalar]], born as Kandarpillai Arumugapillai, a [[Sri Lanka]]n Hindu reformer
* [[Bastiampillai Anthonipillai Thomas]] (1886-1964), [[Sri Lankan Tamil]] priest and founder of Rosarians Order
* [[Bastiampillai Anthonipillai Thomas]] (1886–1964), [[Sri Lankan Tamil]] priest and founder of Rosarians Order
* [[Bastiampillai Deogupillai]] (1917-2003), [[Sri Lankan Tamil]] Roman Catholic bishop
* [[Bastiampillai Deogupillai]] (1917–2003), [[Sri Lankan Tamil]] Roman Catholic bishop
* [[B. Ravi Pillai]] is an Indian entrepreneur. He is the founder and managing director of RP Group of Companies.
* [[C. W. Thamotharampillai]] (1832–1901), publisher of ancient Tamil texts
* [[C. W. Thamotharampillai]], publisher of ancient Tamil texts
* [[Candice Pillay]] (born 1981), singer and songwriter
* [[Candice Pillay]], born 1981, singer and songwriter
* [[Changampuzha Krishna Pillai]], Malayalam poet
* [[Chempakaraman Pillai]] (1891–1934), freedom fighter from Travancore of Tamil descent
* [[Chempakaraman Pillai]] (1891–1934), freedom fighter from Travancore of Tamil descent
* [[Migapulle Arachchi|Chinna Migapillai]], 17th century [[feudal lord]] and rebel leader from the [[Jaffna Kingdom]]
* [[Migapulle Arachchi|Chinna Migapillai]], 17th century [[feudal lord]] and rebel leader from the [[Jaffna Kingdom]]
* [[Devasahayam Pillai]] (1712–52), Indian court official, controversial convert to Christianity
* [[Dhanraj Pillay]] (born 1968), Indian hockey player
* [[Dhanraj Pillay]] (born 1968), Indian hockey player
* [[G. P. Pillai]], barrister, established the first English newspaper in South India
* [[Gerald Pillay]] (born 1953), South African theologian and [[ecclesiastical historian]], [[Vice Chancellor]] and Rector of [[Liverpool Hope University]].
* [[G. Parameswaran Pillai]] (1890–1963), Dewan of Travancore
* [[Gooty Kesava Pillai]] (1860–1933), Indian journalist and freedom-fighter. Delegate from Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh at the first session of the Indian National Congress.
* [[Gooty Kesava Pillai]] (1860–1933), Indian journalist and freedom-fighter. Delegate from Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh at the first session of the Indian National Congress.
* [[K. C. Pillai]], [[Doctor of Divinity]], (1900–70) a [[Bishop]]-at-large of the [[Indian Orthodox Church]], Antiochean Succession, [[Chennai]] (Madras), India.
* [[Jerry Pillay]] (born 1965), South African Reformed pastor, theologian and General Secretary of the [[World Council of Churches]].
* [[K. C. Pillai (bishop)]] (1900–1970), Bishop-at-large of the [[Indian Orthodox Church]], Antiochean Succession, [[Chennai]] (Madras), India
* [[K. Appavu Pillai]] (1911–1973), Indian politician
* [[K. Appavu Pillai]] (1911–1973), Indian politician
* [[K. C. Sreedharan Pillai]] (1920–85), Indian mathematician
* [[K. Perumal Pillai]], Indian politician
* [[K. Perumal Pillai]]
* [[K. Thamboosamy Pillay]] (1850–1902), a prominent member of the Tamil community in [[British Malaya]]
* [[K. Thamboosamy Pillay]] (1850–1902), a prominent member of the Tamil community in [[British Malaya]].
* [[Kavimani Desigavinayagam Pillai]] (1876–1954), Indian freedom fighter, poet
* [[Kavimani Desigavinayagam Pillai]], Indian freedom fighter, poet
* [[L. D. Swamikannu Pillai]] (1865–1925), Indian astronomer, Speaker of [[Tamil Nadu]] Assembly
* [[L. D. Swamikannu Pillai]], Indian astronomer, Speaker of [[Tamil Nadu]] Assembly
* [[Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai]] (1855–1897), writer in [[Tamil literature]]; his poem "[[Tamil Thai Valthu (Tamil Nadu)|Niraarum Kadal Udutha]]" is the official [[Tamil Thai Valthu (Tamil Nadu)|Tamil Anthem]]
* [[M. M. Pareed Pillay]]- Former [[Chief Justice]] of Kerala
* [[Maraimalai Adigal]] (Nagai Vedachalam Pillai, 1876–1950), eminent [[Tamil language|Tamil]] orator and writer, started Pure Tamil movement Tanittamil Iyakkam
* [[M. P. Narayana Pillai]], a Malayalam writer
* [[Marimutha Pillai]] (1712–1787), musician
* [[M. K. Mackar Pillay]], Indian industrialist and politician
* [[Maruthanayagam Pillai]] (1725–1764), Indian soldier and administrator also known as [[Muhammed Yusuf Khan]]
* [[Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai]], eminent writer in [[Tamil literature]]; his poem "[[Invocation to Goddess Tamil|Niraarum Kadal Udutha]]" is the official [[Tamil Anthem]]
* [[Naraina Pillai]], social entrepreneur and businessman
* [[Maraimalai Adigal]] (Nagai Vedachalam Pillai) eminent [[Tamil language|Tamil]] orator and writer started Pure Tamil movement Tanittamil Iyakkam.
* [[Navi Pillay|Navanethem Pillay]] (born 1941), South African judge, [[UN High Commissioner for Human Rights]]
* [[Marimutthu Pillai]], musician
* [[Palani Subramaniam Pillai]] (1908–1962), Carnatic music percussionist
* [[Muhammed Yusuf Khan|Maruthanayagam Pillai]] (1725–64), Indian soldier and administrator also known as Muhammed Yusuf Khan.
* [[Vijayakumar (Tamil actor)|Panchaksharam Rangasamy Pillai]] (born 1943), known as Vijayakumar, is an Indian actor who works in [[Tamil cinema]]
* [[Murali Pillai]], Singaporean politician of Indian descent
* [[Nadakkal Parameswaran Pillai]] (born 1931), leader of Indian Coffee House movement
* [[Naraina Pillai]], a social entrepreneur and businessman
* [[Navi Pillay|Navanethem Pillay]], South African Judge, [[UN High Commissioner for Human Rights]]
* [[Nisha Pillai]], Indian-born journalist and BBC [[news anchor]]
* [[P. Govinda Pillai]], a Communist Party of India leader
* [[Palani Subramaniam Pillai]] (1908–62), Carnatic music percussionist
* [[Paravoor T. K. Narayana Pillai]] (1890–1971), Indian freedom fighter
* [[Pattom A. Thanu Pillai]] (1885–1970), Second Chief Minister of unified Kerala, Communist leader
* [[Periyapillai]], 16th century king of the [[Jaffna Kingdom]]
* [[Periyapillai]], 16th century king of the [[Jaffna Kingdom]]
* [[Velupillai Prabhakaran|Prabhakaran Velupillai]], leader of [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]]
* [[Pradani Muthirulappa Pillai]], 18th-century minister of [[Ramnad]] during the reign of Muthuramalinga Sethupathy
* [[Pradani Muthirulappa Pillai]], minister of [[Ramnad]] during the reign of Muthuramalinga Sethupathy
* [[M. S. Prem Nath|Prem Nath Pillai]] (born 1982), [[Malaysia]]-based filmmaker and editor
* [[M. S. Prem Nath|Prem Nath Pillai]] (born 1982) [[Malaysia|Malaysian]] based filmmaker and editor
* [[Simone Ashley|Simone Ashwini Pillai]], British Actress of [[Tamils|Tamil native]]
* [[R. Balakrishna Pillai]] (1935–2021), State minister in [[Kerala]]
* [[A. Sivathanu Pillai|Sivathanu Pillai]], Rocket Scientist
* [[Rajmohan Pillai]] (born 1964), Indian businessman
* [[Subbayya Sivasankaranarayana Pillai]] (1901–1950), Indian mathematician
* [[Rhea Pillai]], Indian model
* [[Sreekanteswaram Padmanabha Pillai]], lexicographer
* [[Subbayya Sivasankaranarayana Pillai]] (1901–50), Indian mathematician
* [[Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai]], journalist and political activist. Translated Karl Marx's biography into Malayalam
* [[T. S. Ramasamy Pillai]] (1918–2006), Freedom-fighter, politician and former Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)
* [[T. S. Ramasamy Pillai]] (1918–2006), Freedom-fighter, politician and former Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)
* [[Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai]] (1912–99), Malayalam author
* [[Trevin Bastiampillai]] (born 1985), [[Sri Lankan Canadian]] cricketer
* [[Trevin Bastiampillai|Trevin Callistus Bastiampillai ]] (born 1985), [[Sri Lankan Canadian]] cricketer
* [[Vella Pillay]] (1923-2004), South African economist and political activist
* [[V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai]], current Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University [[IGNOU]]
* [[V. O. Chidambaram Pillai]] (1872–1936), Indian freedom fighter, popularly known as V.O.C. and as Kappalottiya Tamilan
* [[V. O. Chidambaram Pillai]] (1872–1936), Indian freedom fighter, popularly known as V.O.C. and as Kappalottiya Tamilan
* [[Venkatarama Ramalingam Pillai]], (AKA Namakkal Kavignar Ramalingam Pillai) poet and freedom fighter.
* [[Venkatarama Ramalingam Pillai]] (Namakkal Kavignar Ramalingam Pillai, 1888–1972), poet and freedom fighter.
 
== Notable Malayali Pillais==
{{for|more|Pillai (Kerala title)|List of Nairs}}
[[File:The Special Secretary, Department of Commerce, Shri G.K. Pillai at the inauguration of a National Seminar on Government Procurement, jointly organised by the Department of Commerce (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Gopal Krishna Pillai]], I.A.S officer and former Home Secretary in the Government of India]]
[[File:Ms. Shobana Chandrakumar, a well-known Classical dancer, Choreographer teacher and actress, in 2006 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Shobana|Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai]], Indian actress]]
* [[B. Ravi Pillai]] (born 1953) Dubai-based Indian billionaire businessman
* [[Changampuzha Krishna Pillai]] (1911-1948) was a celebrated [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]] poet from [[Kerala]]
* [[C. V. Raman Pillai]] (1858–1922), also known as C. V., was one of the major Indian [[novelists]] and [[playwrights]] and a pioneering playwright and novelist of [[Malayalam literature]]
* [[Devasahayam Pillai]] (1712–1752) was an [[Indian people|Indian]] layman and [[martyr]] of the [[Catholic Church]]
* [[Divya Pillai]] Indian actress who appears in [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam films]]
* [[Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai]]  (1904 – 1973), known as Elamkulam, was an Indian historian, linguist and academic from [[Kerala]]
* [[Janardhanan (actor)|Janardhanan pillai]] (born 1946), also known as Janardhanan Nair, is an Indian actor, [[Film producer|producer]] and a former [[Indian Air Force]] personnel who predominantly acts in [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam films]]
* [[Kollam G. K. Pillai]] (1934-2016), Indian actor
* [[K. M. Vasudevan Pillai]] (born 1946 in [[Kerala]], [[India]]) is an Indian [[educationist]], [[social entrepreneur]], institution-builder, and [[philanthropist]]
* [[K. Shankar Pillai]] (1902–1989), better known as Shankar, was an Indian [[cartoonist]]
* [[Kumbalathu Sanku Pillai]] (1898-1969) Social reformer, politician and freedom fighter
* [[Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai]] (1878-1970) was an Indian social reformer and freedom fighter from the south-western state of [[Kerala]]. He is recognised as the founder of the [[Nair Service Society]] (NSS)
* [[Murali Pillai]] (1967) Singaporean politician and lawyer
* [[Nanoo Pillai]] (1827–1886) was a Travancore statesman who served as the [[Diwan (title)|Diwan]] of [[Travancore]] from 1877 to 1880.
* [[Nisha Pillai]], Indian journalist based in London. She is a main [[news anchor]] for [[BBC World News]]
* [[N. Krishna Pillai]] (1916-1988) was an Indian [[dramatist]], [[literary critic]], translator and historian of [[Malayalam language]]
* [[N. N. Pillai]] (1918–1995) was an Indian [[playwright]], actor, [[theatre director]], [[orator]], screenplay writer, lyricist and an I.N.A Freedom fighter
* [[Omchery N. N. Pillai]] (1924–2024) was an Indian [[Malayalam|Malayalam–language]] playwright, novelist and poet from [[Kerala]]
* [[Pattom A. Thanu Pillai]] (1885-1970) was an Indian politician and [[freedom fighter]] who served as the 2nd [[Chief Minister]] of Kerala from 1960 to 1962. He was considered as a central figure in [[Kerala]] politics
* [[Paravoor T. K. Narayana Pillai]] (1890-1971) was an Indian [[freedom fighter]] during the [[British Raj]] in India and was a member of the [[Indian National Congress]] (INC)
* [[P. Govinda Pillai]] (1926 – 2012) Indian politician
* [[P. S. Sreedharan Pillai]] (born 1954) is an Indian politician, attorney, and author, who is currently serving as the [[Governor of Goa|19th and current Governor of Goa]] since 2021
* [[Rajan Pillai]]  (1947 – 1995) was an Indian businessman from [[Kerala]], popularly known as the ''Biscuit Baron''
* [[Rajeev Pillai]] (born 1982) Indian actor in [[Malayalam cinema]]
* [[Ranj Pillai]] (born 1974) is a Canadian politician and premier of [[Yukon]]
* [[Rhea Pillai]]  (born 1965) British [[Model (people)|model]]
* [[Shobana|Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai]] (1970) is an Indian actress and [[Bharatanatyam]] dancer
* [[Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai]] (1878–1916), journalist and political activist. Translated Karl Marx's biography into Malayalam
* [[Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai]] (17 April 1912 – 10 April 1999) Indian novelist and short story writer of [[Malayalam literature]]
*[[V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai]]  (born 1949) current Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University ([[IGNOU]])
 
==Notes==
{{notelist}}


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Indian surnames]]
[[Category:Surnames of Indian origin]]
[[Category:Surnames of Hindu origin]]

Latest revision as of 04:11, 14 March 2026

Template:AI-generated Pillai or Pillay, (ml) meaning "Child of King" (Prince) or "Child",[1] is a surname or title found among the Malayalam and Tamil speaking people of India and Sri Lanka.

In Kerala, Pillai is the most common title among upper-caste Nairs,[2][3] often bestowed by the ruling royal families of Kerala[3] and less commonly found among some Brahmins,[4] Nazrani Mappila and Marars of Travancore.[3][5]

In Tamil Nadu, it is a most common surname among various high-ranking Vellalar subcastes.[lower-alpha 1][7] It is less commonly found among some other Tamil-speaking castes, including Isai Vellalar, Agamudayar, etc.[8] A minority population of Tamil Pillais have migrated and can be found in some parts of Kerala and Karnataka.

In general, the concept of "the Pillai title of Kerala" and "the Pillai surname of Tamilnadu" have two different meanings and no direct relation with each other.[9]

Etymology and origin[edit | edit source]

According to epigraphic records, Pillai is an ancient title back to the Sangam Era that was used as a suffix and given to junior members of the royal family.[10] Originally a title meaning "royal child" or "Child of King" (prince), denoting nobility.[1] The title occurs both as a single name or as a suffix to the name, it came to be given to administrators of temples; often holding large estates on behalf of the latter.[11]

Early English records also address these hereditary ruling chiefs as the princes of Kerala ranking below the monarch. The most well known are the Pillais of the Eight Nair Noble Houses, the Ettuveettil Pillamar of Travancore.[12][3]

Pillais of Kerala[edit | edit source]

In Kerala, the usage of the Pillai surname began with the royal family of Kerala. "Pillai" traditionally signifies a child of a royal family or prince. Pillai is a surname reserved for junior members of the Kerala royal family who are descendants of Survyanshi and Chandravanshi Kshatriyas.

In the 12th century, with the formation of the Kulashekara Kingdom based in Kollam (later known as Venadu kingdom), the culture of Pillai nomenclature underwent significant changes. The Kulashekara Kings started using Pilla as an honorific title for their chieftains and lords, rather than members of the royal family. Members of the royal family now have a uniformed surname - Varma, while children of the King who are not part of the royal family (due to the following of Marumakathayam laws where lineage moves via females of the house), their surname shall be Thampi and Thangachi.[11]

During the Venad era, Pillai was the title given to Nair Landlords and Provincial governors, and those who had taxation power over Quilon and Trivandrum regions. The most famous among them being the Ettuveetil Pillaimar. Gradually, it became one of the common surnames of the highest echelon of Nairs, who were mostly referred to as Madambi or barons. These Nairs had the right to use the Pillai surname for all their family members.[3]

However, with the formation of the Travancore Kingdom, the concept of Pilla underwent significant changes under the reign of Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma Maharaja, who centralized the rule of Travancore. The Pillai surname was given to those who were part of the Royal service, which includes advisors, bureaucrats, administrators, military commanders, etc., most of whom were of Nair and Brahmin origin.[3][13]

The Pillai surname of Venadu kingdom and Travancore is fully reserved for savarna subjects, most of whom are equivalent to Kshatriyas and Brahmins in the northern caste system. It's important to note that the caste system in Kerala differs from that in other parts of India.[14]

Pillais of Tamilnadu[edit | edit source]

Pillai or Pillay,[15] is an ancient Tamil word meaning "child" or "younger ones." In the Chola court, a specific group of Vellalars had a dispute over rights to certain land, with one faction claiming based on seniority, referred to as Mudaliar, meaning "first one" and the other based on tenancy rights, referred to as Pillaiyar, meaning "younger one".,[7] which also meaning "Child of Parvati" (Parvati Devi),[16]

The plural form of "Pillai" is "Pillaimar", which transforms into "Pillaiyār" when the plural suffix is replaced by an honorific suffix. This transformation has led to semantic confusion, as the term "Pillaiyār" is also a common reference to the god Ganesha in Tamil tradition. While this linguistic overlap exists, the two usages are contextually distinct: one referring to the plural or honorific form of "Pillai," and the other to the deity.[17]

Vellalar, a dominant landowning caste in Tamil society, possess a unique origin myth that emphasizes their elevated status and connection to divine purity. This myth finds its roots in a symbolic pun that intertwines their cultural identity with their socio-economic role. The Vellalar claim to be the "children" (Pillai) of the goddess Parvati, a revered deity in Hindu mythology. According to tradition, this divine lineage underscores the Vellalar’s purity, which is considered essential for the fertility of the land and the prosperity of the territories under their command.   The term Pillai, central to their origin narrative, carries dual connotations. On one hand, it reflects the notion of divine parentage, as the "children" of Parvati. On the other hand, Pillai is also a lordly title historically associated with landowning castes in southern Tamil Nadu, a region from which the majority of the Vellalar are believed to have originated.[18] As recorded by Arunachalam (1964), a branch of the Vellalar, who were traditionally regarded as the ruling caste of Tamil Nadu, claimed to have received grain and agricultural knowledge from the Earth Goddess Parvati. This divine gift of sustenance and skill is cited as the foundation of their identity as both the cultivators of food and the rulers of the land. To emphasize their importance, the Vellalar assert that they are creators of life itself, given their central role in food production.[19]

While primarily associated with the Vellalar caste, The surname has also been adopted by some castes in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka as a means of social upliftment, including the Konar, Agamudaiyar,[20] Isai Vellalar and some other caste. These surnames have been considered markers of elevated social status and cultural identity in the respective communities.[lower-alpha 2]

Notable Tamil Pillais[edit | edit source]

Notable people with this surname or its variants include:

"Champakraman Pillai" Indian freedom fighter.
Venkatarama Ramalingam Pillai 1989 stamp of India

Notable Malayali Pillais[edit | edit source]

For more, see Pillai (Kerala title) and List of Nairs.
Gopal Krishna Pillai, I.A.S officer and former Home Secretary in the Government of India
Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai, Indian actress

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ The term "Vellalar" is a generic term for a group of high ranking Non-brahmin castes in TamilNadu[6]
  2. ↑ To be a Vellala in Tamil agrarian society meant an ancient entitlement to superior social status. Caste, therefore, legitimised eco- nomic entitlement. It was not enough to have entitlements over resources; it was also necessary, in the Tamil agrarian social order, to have these entitlements legitimised through Vellala status, or at least a Vellala honorific.[21]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sircar, Dineschandra (1966). Indian Epigraphical Dictionary. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 166. ISBN 9788120805620.
  2. ↑ a Kshatriya (Pillai Ilampel Pandarathil mentioned in Mark de Lannoy Kulasekhara Perumals of Travancore, Page 6 at para2
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Shungoonny Menon, P. (1998). History of Travancore from the earliest times (2nd AES repr. [d.Ausg.] Madras, Higginbotham, 1878 ed.). New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. ISBN 978-81-206-0169-7.
  4. ↑ a Brahmin (Pillai Idathara Potti) mentioned in Mark de Lannoy, Kulasekhara Perumals of Travancore, Page 6 at para2
  5. ↑ A handbook of Kerala. 2 (1st ed.). Thiruvananthapuram: International School of Dravidian Linguistics. 2002. ISBN 978-81-85692-31-9.
  6. ↑ Peterson, I.V. (2014). Poems to Siva: The Hymns of the Tamil Saints. Princeton Library of Asian Translations. Princeton University Press. p. 45,355. ISBN 978-1-4008-6006-7. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Pandian, Jacob (1987). Caste, Nationalism and Ethnicity: An Interpretation of Tamil Cultural History and Social Order. Popular Prakashan. p. 110. ISBN 9780861321360.
  8. ↑ Pfister, Raymond (1995). Soixante ans de pentecôtisme en Alsace (1930-1990): une approche socio-historique. P. Lang. p. 166. ISBN 9783631486207.
  9. ↑ Doe, John (2020). Historical Dictionary of the Tamils. Publisher Name. p. 268. ISBN 978-1-5381-0686-0.
  10. ↑ See inscription at Kannankara temple, Trivandrum District. Quoted as Inscription 9/60 in P. Sundaram Pillai's Some Early Sovereigns of Travancore. Page 40-41 He makes the observation that they were in his opinion not men in the royal service.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Mark de Lannoy,Kulasekhara Perumals of Travancore, Page 202
  12. ↑ More, Lena (2003). English East India Company and the local rulers in Kerala. Institute for Research in Social Sciences and Humanities. ISBN 8188432040.
  13. ↑ Irschick, Eugene F.; Jeffrey, Robin (1977). "The Decline of Nayar Dominance. Society and Politics in Travancore, 1847-1908". Pacific Affairs. 50 (1): 150. doi:10.2307/2756149. ISSN 0030-851X. JSTOR 2756149.
  14. ↑ Devasahayam, M. G. (2022-07-11). "Saint Devasahayam's anti-caste struggle angered Brahmins and Nairs, not his conversion". ThePrint. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  15. ↑ Mallampalli, Chandra (2011-11-21). Race, Religion and Law in Colonial India: Trials of an Interracial Family. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-139-50507-9.
  16. ↑ Arunachalam, M. (1964). The Vellalar: A study of their origin and history. University of Madras.
  17. ↑ Proceedings of the First International Conference Seminar of Tamil Studies. International Association of Tamil Research. 1966.
  18. ↑ Arunachalam, M. (1964). The Vellalar: A study of their origin and history. University of Madras.
  19. ↑ Arunachalam, K. (1964). The Land and People of Tamil Nadu. Vikas Publishing House. p. 204. ISBN 978-3-11-080775-2.
  20. ↑ Smith, John (2020). Caste, Nationalism, and Ethnicity. Publisher Name. p. 113. ISBN 978-0-86132-136-0.
  21. ↑ Meanings of agriculture : essays in South Asian history and economics, p. 349.
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