Reddiar
| Reddiar | |
|---|---|
| ரெட்டியார் (Tamil)
రెడ్డియార్ (Telugu) | |
| Religions | Hinduism |
| Languages | Tamil (majority)
Telugu (minority; native) |
| Country | India |
| Populated states | Tamil Nadu
Pondicherry |
| Region | South India |
| Ethnicity | Telugu |
| Population | 400,000 |
Reddiar (also spelt as Reddiyar) is an ethnic-Telugu Warrior,landowning, merchantile, agricultural social group in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry in India.
Reddiars, Reddy, Reddappa are of the same origins but spelled differently and they spread across the lands of Southern and Central India. They are the patrons/financial supporters of local temples in Tamil Region. The names have been believed to be derived according to the regions they are spread across. Reddy in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Reddiar (Reddy + ar) in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, and Kerala. Reddy, Reddappa (Reddy + appa- signifying respect) in Karnataka.
Many Reddiars moved from the Andhra region in search of rich soil for cultivation and settled in Pondicherry and the northern districts of Cuddalore, Villupuram and Chengalpet in Tamil Nadu during Vijayanagar Empire.
The migration of the Reddys/Reddiars to Tamil Nadu is assumed to have occurred during the Reddy dynasty expansion till Kanchipuram areas.
Following are the districts that have significant Reddiar Population. Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Ranipet, Vellore, Thirupattur, Thiruvannamalai, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Puducherry, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Karur, Perambalur, Tiruchirappalli, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli.