Surname Gounder - Meaning and Origin

Gounder: What does the surname Gounder mean?

The last name Gounder is an occupational surname primarily found within the Tamil-speaking population. The origin of the name is derived from the Tamil title ‘Gounder’, which loosely translates in English to ‘governor’. Historically, the title referred to leaders of specific clans and was indicative of their relative status.

As the title migrated from South India to all areas of the Indian subcontinent, so too did the last name Gounder spread, and today it is found in most of India, as well as among the diasporic Indian communities in the Western world.

The surname is perhaps most popularly associated with the Gounder caste in Tamil Nadu, which is one of the ‘Forward’ castes, meaning that its members had historically held positions of elite authority or leadership in the villages of south India. These members were sometimes referred to as “democratic rulers” as they were responsible for providing leadership and implementing laws to govern the village.

In recent times, the surname Gounder has become less of a signifier of class or status, and more linked to a person’s cultural background, ethnicity or regional origin. While the Gounder people with Tamil heritage are the primary bearers of the name, people of other regional backgrounds (for example, Punjabi, Gujarati or Malayali) also use the surname Gounder.

Gounder: Where does the name Gounder come from?

The last name Gounder is most commonly found in India and a few other South Asian countries. It is also present in parts of Africa and some countries in the Middle East.

The most common place to find the last name Gounder is India, where there are several distinct ethnic groups that can be identified by this surname. Many of these Indian Gounders are members of the Gounder caste, which is a social grouping found primarily in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Kerala. Gounders are typically descended from tribal communities, and while language, cultural practices, and geographic origins vary, they share many values and beliefs.

The last name Gounder is also commonly found among a few African countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. In these countries, the surname is often associated with the Kamba tribe, although other ethnic groups can be identified as well.

Additionally, the last name Gounder can also be found in some Middle Eastern countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, and Oman. This is most likely due to Indian settlers who emigrated to these countries in search of work or religious freedom.

Overall, the last name Gounder is most commonly found in India, but can also be found in other parts of South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

Variations of the surname Gounder

The surname Gounder is an Indian originated name which is mainly found in the South Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The variants and spellings for the surname Gounder include Goundar, Gounder, Gownder and Gowndar.

Goundars ( also spelled as Gownetr) are a sub-caste of the South Indian Kshatriya caste and are the residents of Karnataka and Kerala states. This caste is also known as Reddy Gounders.

Gowndar is a derivative of the Gounder caste name. This variation is commonly found in the then Madras Presidency region in Tamil Nadu state. This variation is used to denote people from the Gowndar caste.

Koundar is another variation popularly found in the Palakkad district of Kerala state. This variation comes from the Tamil word konu meaning, both eyes.

Gounder is another spelling used among people of the Gounder caste. This variation is prominently used among people from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu states.

The Indian Catholic Church also uses the variation Goundan for certain members of the Gounder caste.

Gandar is another variation commonly found among Goundar’s in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This variation is thought to come from the Portuguese word Gando which also means the same.

Thus, the variants, spellings and surnames that are derived from the surname Gounder offer different interpretations of this ancient South Indian caste in different regions of India.

Famous people with the name Gounder

• Gokul Gounder: an Indian badminton player who has won several international tournaments.
• Gautham Gounder: Indian actor who has appeared in several Tamil films.
• Arun Gounder: a singer and music composer from India who has composed several hit songs.
• Shan Gounder: an Indian cricketer who has represented his country at the Under-19 level.
• Raj Gounder: a British-born Indian fashion designer known for creating unique and eclectic clothing collections.
• Manick Gounder: an Indian playwright, theatre director, and former television journalist.
• Navin Gounder: an Australian-based physician and scientist specializing in infectious diseases.
• Alapplication Gounder: a Canadian mountaineer and entrepreneur who has summited several of the world’s highest mountains.
• Arul Gounder: an industrialist and philanthropist from India who has donated generously to various causes.
• Anish Gounder: an Indian filmmaker who has directed several critically acclaimed films.

Other surnames

Goundan