Vellala surname is an Indian last name. Vellala surname also indicates the caste of person. Vellala surname definition is The great cultivating caste of the Tamil country to whom by general consent the first place in social esteem among the Tamil Sudra castes is awarded. They have a strength of more than 2 millions in India; in the Central Provinces there were in 1911 about 700 in Chanda Nagpur and other Districts. In the Madras Census Report of 1901 Mr. Francis gives an interesting description of the structure of the caste and its numerous territorial occupational and other subdivisions. He shows also how groups from lower castes continually succeed in obtaining admission into the Vellala community in the following passage: Instances of members of other castes who have assumed the name and position of Vellalas are the Vettuva Vellalas who are really Vettuvans; the Puluva Vellalas who are only Puluvans; the Illam Vellalas who are Panikkans; the Karaiturai (lord of the shore) Vellalas who are Karaiyans; the Karukamattai (palmyra leaf stem) Vellalas who are Balijas; the Guha (Ramas boatman) Vellalas who are Sembadavans; and the Irkuli Vellalas who are Vannans. The children of dancing girls also often call themselves Mudali and claim in time to be Vellalas and even Paraiyans assume the title of Pillai and trust to its eventually enabling them to pass themselves off as members of the caste. The Vellalas will not touch the plough with their own hands. Some of them abstain from flesh and liquor and prohibit the remarriage of widows with a view to raising their social status.. People with Vellala surname can also be found in other south asian countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Vellala surname definition is from a survey conducted during British rule in India. Many surnames in India indicate the type of work done by the person or by someone in family from whom the family inherited the surname. Surnames help spread casteism in India. One of the intellectuals suggested to drop surnames in India so that people can overcome caste differences easily.
