Chettiar also spelt Chetty is a title commonly used by people of South Indian origin in India and abroad. It is a trading and agricultural social group. They belong to Vaishya clans of the Varna system. Chettiar is the third most dominant clan and surname in Tamil Nadu. This community is known for its trade in spices, for its role in the hotel industry, and for its chettinad chicken and fish curries, which are popular throughout south India. One theory is that the root word is “etti”, an Aryan word that means look up, jump up or make a forward movement. In Kannada it is Setty, Shettar and Shettigar, who are Padmashalis in Andhra Pradesh, as in Saetru Eeyar, meaning people who collect and donate.Chettiars have been socially participative and benevolent. The Padmashali Shettigar or Padmashali Chettiar community is also known for its culinary delights with its exotic chettinad chicken and fish, a famous delicacy in Tamil Nadu.
Chettiar marriages are happening in various states of our country through
Chettiar Matrimonial Sites. As noted, many castes of different ethnic origins use the title today. The foremost in Tamil Nadu are the Nattukottai Chettiars or Nagarathars who are ethnically Tamil and originated from the Other castes in Tamil Nadu using this are ‘AAiyra Vysyar.Ezhur chetty ethnic Tamil,originating from Poompuhar/Kaveripoom Pattinam and living in southern Tamil Nadu as well as southern kerala, Telugu speaking Arya Vysyas a subsect of Komati Settys from Andhra Pradesh , 24 Manai Telugu Chettiars, Vaniya Chettiar, Padmashali Chettiar,Devanga Chettiar, Beri Chettiar, Ilavaniya Chettiar etc. Matrimonial sites have become a part of Marriages in India, providing right matches for people within their own community as well as in other communities too. Most of the non-Tamil castes use it as an affix to their profession specific names.
Telugus use it as in Komati Setty where Komati represents a name of the group and Setty represents a trade. Telugu, Kannada and Malayali weavers use it as in Padmashali Chetty, Devanga Chetty or Sali Chetty, where Devanga and Padmashali represent the name of the group. However, Padmashali and Devanga are different castes, but engaged in weaving. Velan Chettiar.Various Titles used by chettiar caste are Nagarathar Tamil Chettiar, Padmashali Tamil Chettiar, Devanga Chettiar (Speaking Kannada / Telugu languages), 24 Manai Telugu Chettiars,Senaithalaivar, Elur Chetty, Pattinavar Chettiar,Viralur Nagarathu Vellan Chettiar, Agaram Vellan Chettiar ,
Vaniya Chettiar Matrimony, Kongu Chettiar, Padmasaliar Chettiar, Padmashali Chettiar, Kuruhini Chetty, Moundadan Chetty, Sozhia Chetty, Komati Setty, Ayira Vaisya Kasukara Chettiar , Saiva Chettiar / Thiruvarur Vaguppu (Vellan Chettiars) , Pannirendam chettiar . Total population of this community is 1 Crore. Chettiar matches are shown by various online
Indian Matrimonial Websites.