Vells

Vells is a term that may refer to more than one thing, depending on context. In South Asia, it is most commonly encountered as a variation of Vellalar, a Tamil caste historically associated with landholding, farming, and local administration in Tamil Nadu and neighboring regions. The Vellalar were a prominent agrarian community during medieval dynasties such as the Cholas and Pandyas, and their traditional role often included land management, revenue collection, and village leadership. In modern times, people identifying with this community are diverse in occupation and geography, with many living in Tamil Nadu as well as in the Indian diaspora. The term “Vells” in older English-language sources is sometimes used as a plural form of Vellalar, though contemporary usage tends to favor Vellalar or Velalar.

Other uses and notes: In biology and related fields, the term vell is not standard in current practice; related terms such as vellus or vellus refer to fine body hair, with the plural forms velluses or velli in strict scientific usage. The plural form “vells” is not common in modern scientific writing. Additionally, Vells may appear as a surname or in place names in some contexts, but it is not widely used as a distinct regional or ethnic label beyond Tamil contexts.

In summary, Vells most often points to the Vellalar caste in Tamil Nadu, with the plural form appearing mainly in historical or transliterated texts; other uses are less common and context-dependent.