Nair
The origin of the surname Nair
Nair is the name of a prominent community from Kerala; its ultimate origin is debated.
How Indian surnames work
Indian surnames are extraordinarily diverse, varying by region, language, religion and community. They may indicate an ancestral village or place, an occupation, a community or title (Patel, historically a village headman; Sharma; Gupta; Reddy), or a father's name; in the south, patronymics and initials are common, and Sikh names traditionally use Singh (“lion”) and Kaur (“princess”). A single surname can therefore carry deep information about origin and heritage.
Frequently asked questions
What does the surname Nair mean?
The surname Nair means A Kerala community name. Nair is the name of a prominent community from Kerala; its ultimate origin is debated.
Where does the surname Nair come from?
Nair is a surname of Indian origin.
What kind of surname is Nair?
Nair is a other surname.
How common is the surname Nair in the United States?
Nair ranks #8,185 among U.S. surnames (2010 U.S. Census), recorded for about 3,728 people.