Gowda

Gowda (also known as Gauda or Gouda) (Kannada: ಗೌಡ) is a honorific or surname from Karnataka in India. It is a surname used byVokkaliga Caste in South Karnataka region.[1][2]

Gowda was originally a honorific used by the administrative head of a village. Typically, such a head owns lands and holds political and social power in the village.[3]

Now, Gowda is also used as a hereditary surname by descendants of the village chiefs. Variants of the surname include Gowder or Gauder or Gowdar(usually in North Karnataka and Nilgiris) and Gowdru (honorific, plural).

Etymology

According to a popular theory, the word Gowda derives from go, the Sanskrit word for cow. However, German Indologist Gustav Oppert derived it from a Dravidian word meaning "mountain".[4]

Notable people

Kempegowda I, founder of the Bengaluru city

The following is a list of notable people with last name Gowda

References

  1. "Gowda Surname, page no. 80 - TENANTS MOVEMENTS IN UTTARA KANNADA DISTRICT AND THE KAG0DU SATYAGRAHA: THEIR IMPACT ON TENANCY RELATIONS AND LAND LEGISLATIONS IN KARNATAKA" (PDF). Shodganga. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  2. George Matthew. "Shift in Indian Politics: 1983 Elections in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka". Concept Publishing Company. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  3. K. T. Margaret, ed. (1999). The Open Classroom: A Journey Through Education. Orient Blackswan. p. 131. ISBN 978-81-250-1669-4.
  4. Kumar Suresh Singh; Anthropological Survey of India (2002). People of India. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 408. ISBN 978-81-85938-99-8.
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