AsariആശാരിIndian, Hindi, Malayalam From a caste originating from Kerala, India. They belong to a larger group called Vishwakarma. The caste name is mostly linked to the community of people who do carpentry work.
BabuബാബുIndian, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada Derived from Hindi बाबू (babu) meaning "father, sir", used as a respectful term of address for a man as well as a term of endearment for a young boy.
Chettiarചെട്ടിയാർIndian, Tamil, Malayalam Refers to a member of any of the various South Indian castes of traders, businessmen, and merchants. The name itself may be from the Tamil honorific எட்டி (eṭṭi) or from a Sanskrit word meaning "wealth".
KunnathuparambilMalayalam (Rare) Elamkunnapuzha-Kunnathuparambil Family has a rich history of around 200 years and traces its origins to a small village called Elamkunnapuzha in Ernakulam District. It was at that time one of our ancestors migrated from Elamkunnapuzha to a small village called Vennoor, near Mala in Thrissur District for his livelihood... [more]
Kurisingalകുരിശിങ്കൽMalayalam Malayalam surname used by the St Thomas Christians of Kerala.
Kurupകുറുപ്പ്Malayalam From a title traditionally bestowed upon weapon makers and masters of martial arts, of uncertain meaning.
MenonമേനോൻMalayalam Means "accountant" in Malayalam, itself derived from the title മേലവൻ (melavan) meaning "overseer, boss, exalted one", from മേല (mel) meaning "top, above, high" and the third person pronoun അവൻ (avan) meaning "he".
NairനായർIndian, Malayalam From Nair, the name of a group of Hindu castes concentrated in the Indian state of Kerala. The origin of the word itself is somewhat disputed. Some believe it is derived from nayaka, an honorific meaning "leader of the people", while another theory suggests that is is derived from the Sanskrit नाग (nāgá) "snake, serpent" (a reference to the practice of snake worship)... [more]
NarayananനാരായണൻIndian, Tamil, Malayalam From the given name Narayanan. A famous bearer was Kocheril Raman Narayanan (1921–2005), the 10th President of India.
Unnikrishnanഉണ്ണികൃഷ്ണന്Malayalam Means "Lord Krishna" or "young Krishna", a combination of the title and given name ഉണ്ണി (uṇṇi) meaning "infant boy, young boy" and the name of Krishna, Hindu deity.
UppadathilMalayalam From Old Malayalam uppadam (sea), lit. "from over the Arabian sea," referring to the descendants of a group of Arab traders who settled in Kerala. Predominantly Muslim, although sizeable sections have branched away and practice Hinduism... [more]