Kartha

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Kartha is a Nair title name derived from Karthavu which means Lord^{[citation needed]} and it was conferred by the king to some powerful Nair families and some of the families enjoyed raja/naduvazi status( Ranni Kartha,Cheraneloor Kartha, Meenechil Kartha, etc) they belongs to Samantha Kshatriya clans.

It is also a title used by the Raghuvamshi clan of the Marathas^{[citation needed]} who were ruling from Ayodhya, the other surnames being Sure,Randheer etc.

Legend:

Kartha, as a Kshatriya community^{[citation needed]}; worked mainly in the Army, Police or as tax collectors. They were the leaders of the troops of the king.

This is said to have alienated them from the common people and some times the opposition was so severe that they are supposed to have been cursed by many.

It is said that today the Kartha surname is almost disappeared because of all the curses that they got.

Society:

Kartha’s strictly followed the marumakkathayam or matrilineal [1] or matriachical tradition where the female was the head of the family. She would only have a Sambandam or an arraignment and not a marriage with any male and that would mainly be with Namboothiri or Iyer Brahmins. Her children would carry her name and inherit her property.