# Nongmaithem

Nongmaithem is one of the oldest Meitei family. The surname "Nongmaithem" has Indian Origins and is primarily associated with the Meitei community in Manipur, India. Members of this family inhabit different parts of the Imphal valley, notably in Imphal and Kakching. People of this family worship Irum Ningthou as their progenitor, whose divine abode is at Kakching.
Nongmaithem has been a family of the Angom clan since the 16th century.

## Origin

The origin of the Nongmaithem can be traced back to three distinct groups of people, i.e., the Nongmais, Langmais, and Nongpans. It was mentioned that the components of the Nongmaithem, particularly the Langmais and the Nongmais, were already settled in the Imphal Valley and the surrounding areas long before the migrations of various people from the Shans took place in the early 9th century. It was further mentioned that the Nongbals or Nongpans were also already settled long before the aforementioned migration. All of them belonged to the Tibeto-Burmans. The Nongmais mainly settled at Nongmaiching Hill, thus the name came after the Nongmais. It is believed that the Langmais and the Nongmais merged with the Nongpans, forming the Nongmaithem as early as the 3rd century BC. This unification marked a significant moment in their history, establishing a cohesive identity long before many other migrations took place.
Another theory suggested that the Nongmais and Langmais had established their settlements long before Poireiton migrated from Khamnung in the late 1st century BC.

## Early Period
### Nature of formation

It is possible that the progenitor of the Nongmaithem was also the progenitor of the Nongmais. When sections of the Langmais and the Nongpans were absorbed into the Nongmais to form the Nongmaithem, they regarded him as their common progenitor, thus unifying the sub-groups under the Nongmais.
Around the 14th century BC, the Chengleis once dominated Nongmaiching. However, after the 10th century BC, new powers began to rise, including the Langmais, Nongmais, Shellois, and Nongpans. The Langmais and the Nongpans eventually merged with other groups, such as the Shelloi-Langmai, which consisted of the Shellois and the Langmais. Despite these mergers, the Nongmais remained a distinct entity until they absorbed the Langmais and the Nongpans to form the Nongmaithem, indicating their dominance over surrounding powers.
It was probably during the 3rd century BC that the formation of the Nongmaithem under the Nongmais was completed, while the Khabas were emerging as a significant power to be reckoned with.

### Heirem Dynasty (Heirem-Khuncha)

Irum Ningthou, also known as Ilum Ningthou, is regarded as the guardian deity of the South-East (Meiram or Meilam), with his divine abode located at Kakching. He was also a divine polo player who played as a Pallakchang (half-back) on the Southern team. The Nongmaithem family and the people around Kakching worship Irum Ningthou as the protector deity against sickness and disaster.
The progenitor of the Nongmaithem is closely associated with the Heirem-Khunchas. Over time, the Nongmaithem family absorbed other neo-Tibetan families, establishing a larger group known as the Heirems. The Heirems engaged in a decades-long process of absorbing smaller groups of people, eventually forming the Heirem dynasty or Heirem-Khuncha. It is believed that the Kunchas were of Tai origin. The Heirem-Khunchas established their capital at Kena Ching or Heirem Kere and then to the present town of Kakching around the 2nd century BC. The Heirem-Khunchas emerged as a powerful force that could challenge the Khumans, Kekes, and Ningthouchas during the early medieval period. Some of its rulers were Lumcheng Ahanpa, Pansareng, Toureng Lanthaba and Chingcharoi Thapanpa. Heirem Kangbisu was a famous warrior during the heydays of the Heirem-Khunchas.

## Later Period

The formation of Nongmaithem was likely during the 3rd century BC. However, it was clearly stated that much later, after its formation, the Nongmaithem became a part of the Angom clan in the 16th century. It might be the result of the Heirems' demise in late 15th century. It is believed that the Langmaithem merged into Nongmaithem and lost its independent existence. Therefore, it appears that the original name of Nongmainu was Langmainu, and later chroniclers recorded all Langmainus as Nongmainus. Another group of people mentioned were the Shelloi-Langmai. This group could have been a combination of the Shellois and the Langmais. The Shelloi were Tibeto-Burmans with Tai elements, and the Langmais were of Asiatic descent. It is possible that some Langmais also merged with the Shelloi at a certain period in history.

## Notable people

Notable people with this surname are:
* Langol Lukhoi, Maichou
* Nongmaithem Tomchaoba Singh Selungba, Member of the State Durbar
* Nongmaithem Syamacharan Singh Selungba, Member of the State Durbar
* Nongmaithem Ibotombi Singh, M.C.S., Sub-Divisional Officer, Chakpikarong
* Nongmaithem Ratanbala Devi, Indian women's professional footballer
* Nongmaithem Pahari, Indian singer, composer, lyricist, revolutionist
* Nongmaithem Biren Singh, Poet
* Nongmaithem Ibopisak, Historian
* Nongmaithem Tombi, Writer
* Nongmaithem Pramodini Devi, Historian and Writer
* Nongmaithem Manaoyaima, Historian
* Nongmaithem Narendra Singh, Poet
* Nongmaithem Nara, Historian and Writer
* Nongmaithem Hera Singh, Writer
* Nongmaithem Arunkumar, Writer