Kurup

Kurup was an occupational title among many communities in the state of Kerala in India. This was an honorific title, particularly in the older days, that had been conferred by the kings of the local provinces,to persons with excellence in performance of certain occupational functions related with martial art, funeral rites etc. . It was a common practice for families of such person, to hold that title as hereditary right and to effect a trans generational pass over. Recently, this title is known with sub sects of some communities such as Nair, Kaniyar,Kammala, Ezhava etc.

The title, Kurup was used by top class of Nairs who were employed as supervisors in temples and pagodas.Both In the past centuries, some members of Kaniyar Panicker families in north Malabar held the honorific title Nambi Kurup. A sect of kaniyar Panicker people in south Malabar has the name "Kalari kurup", it was as an honorific title to conferred to their ancestors in connection with martial art ( kalari ) training . Pothuvan Kurup, Kani Kurup or Kurup was a title of members of another section of this community in central Travancore, who were barbers and funeral rite performers of proper sect of Ganaka .Panicker and Kurup are also used as surnames by the Maarans of Central and South Travancore. A sect of artisan community who had the past traditions of occupational function as bow making and perforamnce of funeral rites also known by vKurup. Few centuries back,some families of ezhava also had the privilege to hold this title in connection with their fucntion as military fighters.

Notable Kurups

References