Why keralites add caste name as their surname? Eg:- Nair,menon,varma?

Question

Why keralites add caste name as their surname? Eg:- Nair,menon,varma?

Answer 1

Many people in Kerala and also in Tamil Nadu add their caste names to their names the way people add their surnames. In Kerala the castes added are mostly Nairs, Pillais, and Menons that belonged to the privileged castes and had affinity to Namboothris, the Brahmins in the past. This could have been one way of asserting the upper class privileges that were available for them and feel superior in the society in which there were all classes of people, touchables and untouchables. The so called lower castes, or other religions did not follow this tradition. The socially 'backward' castes do not even mention their castes unless for government privilege. Because of the Hindu caste system, even Muslims and Christians, which do not have castes, often have to mention their 'castes' in government forms!

Answer 2

It is part of their culture. But not all people add their caste name. Only a small percentage of people do it. The vast majority use the name of their ancestral houses to their names, like many people add the names of their villages to the names in Karnataka.

Answer 3

that is part of tradition that represents their more than 5000 year old history (some beleave 1 cror year old history)

Answer 4

That is their culture - stretching back many centuries.