Mudaliar


Mudaliar is a title used by people belonging to various Tamil castes. Castes using the title speak Tamil as their native language. The title was mostly used among Tamils from Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, and was given to a high-ranking military officer.
The title was primarily used by the communities like the Agamudayars, Karaiyars, Sengunthars and Vellalars. Other communities adopted it as means to present themselves as superior to the social status which they actually held.

Etymology

The title is derived from the Tamil word muthal meaning first with the suffix yaar denoting people. The title is used in the same sense as simply meaning headman.