Chettiar Surname
“Merchant”
Merchant surnamesTamil (from shreshthi) origin · Tamil
History & Significance
A Tamil trading surname from the Sanskrit shreshthi, 'merchant'. The best known are the Nattukottai (Nagarathar) Chettiars of Chettinad, whose clans are organised around nine temples rather than rishi gotras.
What is the Gotra for Chettiar?
Gotra is passed down through the paternal line and may vary within families sharing the same surname. Use our Gotra Finder to discover which Gotra your family belongs to.
Find Chettiar Gotra →Meaning & Origin
- Meaning
- Merchant
- Origin
- Tamil (from shreshthi)
- Language
- Tamil
- Category
- Merchant
Regional Distribution
The Chettiar surname is predominantly found in: