It is recorded, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, that "the Nattamans say they originally settled in South Arcot, and then spread to Tanjore and Trichinopoly, and finally to Madura, and this theory is supported by the fact that they have fifteen exogamous sub-divisions called kanis or fields, which are all named after villages (e.g., Ariyalur, Puththur) in the first three of these districts. A man has a right to marry the daughter of his father's sister, and, if she is given to another man, the father's sister has to return to her father or brother the dowry which she received at the time of her marriage, and this is given to the man who had the claim upon the girl. The same custom occurs among the Kuravans and the Kallans. The eldest son in each family has to be named after the god of the village which gives its name to the kani or sept to which the family belongs, and the child is usually taken to that village to be named. Marriage is infant or adult. Widow marriage is forbidden. Brahmans are employed for ceremonies, but these are not received on terms of equality by other Brahmans. Both cremation and burial are practised. Vellalas will eat with Nattamans. The caste title is Udaiyan." Another title is Nayinar, which is also used by Pallis and Jains. There is a proverb "Nattumuththinal Nayinar", i.e., when the Nattaman ripens, he is a Nayinar. At the census, 1901, some Nattamans returned themselves as Natramiludaiyan, meaning the repository of chaste Tamil; and Ur-Udaiyan (lord of a village) was given as their caste name. Nattaman also occurs as a sub-division of the Pallis. Under the name Nattamadi, the Nattamans are described in the Tanjore Manual as "peasant population. Some are ryotwari land-holders in their own right and possess large estates. The word is derived from nattam, village, and is used in three forms, Nattamakkal, Nattamar, and Nattamadi. A considerable proportion are converts to the Roman Catholic religion, and, in the neighbourhood of Vallam, there are very few who profess any other faith." In the Madura Manual, the Nattambadiyans are further described as being "usually respectable cultivators. They are said to have emigrated into the Madura country not more than about eight years ago. They are an interesting class of Tamils, inasmuch as very many of them have adopted the Roman Catholic faith under the leadership of the Jesuit missionaries. They are said to be a fine race physically; finer even than the Vellalans. They are also called Udaiyans, and tradition says that they came from the Toreiyur nadu or district in Tanjore, from a village called Udeiyapaleiyam. They are chiefly resident in the great zamindaris, and contrast favourably with the Maravans, being very orderly, frugal, and industrious." I am informed that Nattaman women will do cooly work and carry food for their husbands when at work in the fields, but that Malaiman women will not do so.