Gender

---

---

---

Sub Caste

---

Age

---

---

---

Occupation

---

Naidu or Nayudu is derived from a Sanskrit word Nayaka which means protector or leader. This caste is widespread in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. They are also found in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa and Chattisgarh. The word Naidu also denotes a commander or a governor, captain or headman. Naidu is said to be associated with Tamil Nayakar and Naicker, Malayali Nair, the Nayake of Sinhalese people, Marathi Naik and Nayaks (Pattanayak) in Orissa. Both the Telugu speaking communities and non-Telugu speaking communities used Naidu as surname after the expansion of the Vijayanagar kingdom.