Surname Kaimal - Meaning and Origin
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Kaimal: What does the surname Kaimal mean?
Kaimal is a surname of Indian origin, primarily used by people from the state of Kerala in the southwest region of the country. The exact meaning of "Kaimal" might vary depending on the regional dialect, but it is generally recognized as a title given to ranked officials, headmen, or landlords in the area's matrilineal Nair caste during medieval times. It is also associated with landowning nobility or feudal lords who held significant social status and wealth. Given these historical connotations, the surname Kaimal can denote a sense of leadership, authority, and influence. Also, the Kaimals have been historically associated with the Hindu religion and related spiritual practices. However, today the significance of the name is mostly familial or ancestral, providing a link to one's geographic and cultural roots in Kerala.
Order DNA origin analysisKaimal: Where does the name Kaimal come from?
The last name Kaimal is most commonly found in India, where it is a popular name in the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Goa. It is also found throughout the diaspora of each of these regions in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.
Traditionally, the Kaimal name is believed to be a derivative of the title "Kaimal," which was traditionally used to refer to prominent members of the Samutiri rulers of ancient Kerala. Today, the Kaimal name has become a common family name in many parts of India.
In the United States, the name Kaimal can be found predominantly in areas of the country heavily populated by immigrants and their descendants from India. Many Kaimals have also taken up professions as doctors, lawyers, authors, and engineers, and have moved to major cities in the US like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. These Kaimals are now found in business, entertainment, medicine, and politics, to name just a few.
Travelers to India will also likely find Kaimal family names in many parts of the country, especially in rural areas of the south where the Samutiri legacy is still preserved today. In areas like this, many of the oldest Kaimal families still reside. Many of them retain their Samutiri roots in a culture that values tradition and legacy.
Variations of the surname Kaimal
The surname Kaimal is a variation on a Malayalee Hindu name taken from the Sanskrit term ‘kaimala’ meaning ‘lord of the immortals’. It is a popular name in the South Indian state of Kerala, often given to males, and is known to have various spellings and surnames of same origin. Some of the variations of the surname Kaimal include Kemale, Kaiyamal, Kayamal and Kaayamal. The suffix ‘mal’ is often added, resulting in common variants such as Kaimalkutty, Kaimakkutty, Kaimalakutty, Kaimakkuttiyam, Kaimalkuttiyam, Kaimalodayam and even Kayamalodayam. The suffix ‘pal’ is also added to create surnames such as Kaimalpal, Kemichelpal, Kemichelphal, Kemichelpalayam and Kemichelpathal. Other variants of the surname include Kaimaleri, Kaimelery, Kaimeleri, and even Kaimalöderi.
Most of these variations were brought to Kerala, India, by Syrian Christians who settled here in the 10th century AD. This means the Kaimal surname is shared by many Christian families in the region, including several members of the royal family of the former Kingdom of Travancore. It is also popular among several Hindu families in the region, though less so in other areas of India.
Overall, the surname Kaimal has many spellings and surnames of same origin. It’s popularity within Indian culture has meant that it’s been adopted by several Christian and Hindu families and is still used today.
Famous people with the name Kaimal
- P.Kaimal: P. Kaimal is an Indian artist and Writer, who has written many plays in Malayalam, Hindi and English languages. He has also written many stories and novels.
- Manoj Kaimal: Manoj Kaimal is an Indian actor, who made his motion picture debut in 1982. He has acted in a number of Malayalam, Tamil and Kannada films.
- Deepa Kaimal: Deepa Kaimal is an Indian chef and cookbook author, who has authored five cookbooks and built a career as a pioneering cookbook author.
- Dr. V.P. Kaimal: Dr. V.P. Kaimal is an Indian Cardiologist, who has worked for over 33 years in the Department of Cardiology in the Tamil Nadu Medical University.
- Shivaprasad Kaimal: Shivaprasad Kaimal is a former Indian TV and Cinema Actor, who has acted in numerous popular TV serials and films.
- Jitin Kaimal: Jitin Kaimal is an Indian Entrepreneur, who has an MBA degree from the Indian School of Business and has built a career in venture capital.
- Prathap Kaimal: Prathap Kaimal is an Indian Artist, who began his artistic career in the year 1993 and has created a distinct style of art blending abstract patterns and ancient geometry.
- Dr. Jose Kaimal: Dr. Jose Kaimal is an Indian neuropsychiatrist, specialising in sleep medicine, depression and suicide prevention.
- Laxmi Narayan Kaimal: Laxmi Narayan Kaimal is an Indian politician, who has held various posts in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
- Himanshu Kaimal: Himanshu Kaimal is an Indian poet, novelist, and children's writer, who has published various books for children and adults.