Nair refers to what has been described as being today "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embodied several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title.

These people historically lived in the present-day Indian state of Kerala.

Their internal caste behaviors and systems were markedly different between the northern and southern sections of the area, and information regarding those who inhabited the north is scanty.

They are today classed as one of the Hindu forward castes.

The Nair community is regarded as an archaic indigenous community which existed before Vedic civilization.