Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples

Overview: The Tamil people are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the northeastern region of Sri Lanka. Historical evidence of the Tamil dates to as early as 1500 BC. Tamil is a major Dravidian language of India, spoken primarily by the Tamil in India and Sri Lanka. The Tamil people cluster encompasses numerous occupational castes that share the Tamil language. Most Tamil are Hindus, but a few Tamil subgroups follow either Christianity or Islam.

Peoples within this cluster: Agamudaiyan; Alavan; Arwa Mala; Bharathar, Christian; Chackaravar, Hindu; Chayakkaran; Devendrakulathan; Idayan; Isai Vellalar; Kadaiyan; Kaikolan; Kallan; Kambar; Karaiyar; Karalar; Karnam; Katesar; Kattiyakaran; Kavara; Kayalar; Kepmaris; Koliyan; Kommu Dasari; Kongu Vaisnava; Kongu Vellalar; Kudimahan; Kudumban; Kunnuwar; Labbai; Madari, Muslim; Madiga; Madiga Dasu; Madrasi; Malai Vellala; Maniyattikkaran; Marakkan, Muslim; Maravan; Maruthuvar; Mudaliyar; Nadar, Hindu; Nanjil Mudali; Nasuvan; Nayinda; Otan; Pallan, Hindu; Panan; Pancharathra Srivaishnava; Pandaram; Panditattan; Pannadi; Paraiyan, Hindu; Parkavakulam; Parvatarajakulam; Pattanavan; Puthirai Vannan; Rawther; Samban; Sayankulam; Semman; Sri Lankan Moor; Tambiran; Tamil Christian; Tamil Hindu; Tamil Muslim; Tholuva Naicker, Hindu; Tondaman; Uppillian; Valaiyar; Valluvan; Vannan, Hindu; Vellalan; Vellayan Kuppam Padaiyachi; Vettakkaran; Vettiyan; Vettuva Gounder; Yatagiri

Countries where they are found: Bahrain; Cambodia; Canada; France; Germany; Guadeloupe; India; Kuwait; Malaysia; Maldives; Martinique; Myanmar; Netherlands; Oman; Qatar; Reunion; Seychelles; Singapore; Sri Lanka; Thailand; United Kingdom; United States