Nadars’ caste fusion included major five sub-sects. They are the Manattan, Menattan, Kodikkal, Kavadipurattan and Pulukku Sanan.

Various other minor sub sects were also integrated in the Nadar caste fusion process. At the census, 1901, Tollakkadan (man with a big hole in his ears) was taken as being a sub-caste of Shanan, as the people who returned it, and sell husked rice in Madras, used the title Nadan. Madura and Tinnevelly are eminently the homes of dilated ear-lobes also returned as Nadars in the census. Some Tamil traders in these two districts, who returned themselves as Pandyan, were classified as Shanans, and Nadan was entered as their title in census.

In Coimbatore and in some market places of Kerala, some Shanans, engaged as shop-keepers, have been known to adopt the name of Chetti in public bazaars but in census records returned their caste as Nadars or Shanars. Also in Coimbatore and other Kongu Nadu region and in Arcot region, Again a small section of Shanars came be known as Muthiriya Moopar(Shanan) the post of chieftains.