Menon

Menon is a surname and given name of Indian origin, most commonly associated with Malayalam-speaking communities in Kerala. Historically, Menon served as a hereditary title used by certain Nair families who held land, administrative, or chieftain roles in the region. Over time the title and those families adopted Menon as a family name, and it spread with migration and intermarriage within the Malayali world.

Etymology and social context are linked to Kerala’s feudal and social structures rather than to a single linguistic root. As a result, Menon has come to function primarily as a surname, though in some cases it can appear as a given name in Indian communities. The name is most strongly tied to Kerala, but it is also found among Tamils and in Malayali diaspora communities across India and in countries with large Indian populations, including the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America.

In contemporary times, people with the surname Menon have gained prominence in diverse fields such as politics, academia, business, the arts, and science. While not limited to any one profession or region, the name remains a marker of heritage linked to Kerala’s historical Nair lineages and their descendants.

See also: Nair, Kerala, Malayali, Indian surnames, Malayali diaspora.