Achan is a title that was mainly in use by the male members of royal families in Kerala, India.
They mainly belong to the Samantan Nair community (except the Cheruvalli Achans who were a subsect of the Nambidis who follow matrilineal traditions).
● The Paliath Achans, who were the Rajas of areas in Thrissur and North Paravur, were given rights as the hereditary prime ministers of the Maharajah of Cochin in the year 1632.
[1][2] ● The Mangat Achans of Calicut who were by tradition, prominent landlords and hereditary prime ministers under the Zamorin.
[3] ● Meenachil Karthas who were members of a royal family, which ruled the kingdom of Meenachil from the 15th century AD until 1754 were given the title Njanachan by the cheraman perumals).