Goud (surname)
Goud belongs to an Indian caste.
About Goud Caste The Goud (Telugu: గౌడ్) are one of the largest castes in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa and Maharashtra comprising more than 17% of population of AP. Gouds were involved in Soma and Ayurveda Medicine development in ancient days. They are historically classified as Somavansh Kshatriyas. At present, they are involved in Palm Wine / Toddy tapping (5 %) and liquor business, farming (50 %) and modern professions (45 %). It is one of the progressive communities of Andhra Pradesh.
Singamanayaka(velama)Rachakonda attacked the Jallipalli fort in around 1358 AD while he was extending his kingdom. While besieging the fort he was killed by the Somakula Kshatriyas(Gouds) by treachery and they were abetted in their act by the Reddys and the Telugu Nayakas. When Anapotanayaka and Madanayaka, the sons of Singamanayaka came to know about this, they marshalled their forces and attacked Jallipalli fort in 1361 AD and defeated the Somakula Kshatriyas(Gouds) in battle. They did not stop their act of revenge and went after the Reddy Kings and the Telugu Nayakas. They came into conflict with the Kondaveeti Reddy kings when they occupied the Srisailam area which was then under the Reddy Kings. Madanayaka then defeated Anapota Reddy near Dharanikota but despite being victorious Dharanikota did not fall into the Padmanayakas hands. After this incident the rivalry between the Reddy and Velama Kings did not abate till the time both were consumed by the Bahamani and the Vijayanagara Empires later.
Origin of Goud Caste There are several inconclusive theories regarding the origin of word "Goud" as it is originated from title Gouda which is Gowda or Gounder. Several historians and legends also say these people have come from Srilanka, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh or Northern India. According to the Goud Puran, they are said to have come from Benares and other parts of Northern India, where they were originally engaged in the manufacture and sale of spirituous liquors. Till 18th Century AD to 19th Century AD
The below mentioned six endogamous groups under Goundala are currently using Goud as the title whose ancestral profession was or is toddy and/or liquor vending. Goundala groups were using titles till 18th Century AD as Gouda, Ayya or Appa according to Syed Siraj ul Hassan in The Castes and Tribes of H.E.H. the Nizam's Dominions. The word Goud might have originated directly from then title Gouda itself as Gouda in Telugu means "Person of Goud caste", Goud might have meant the person whose profession is either liquor or toddy.
Gouda also means head of village, community or family. It also means people belonging to Goud caste in Telugu language.
Gouda is also used as community head in particular villages to manage specific community related festivals and resolve community related disputes. That tradition of representing particular notable community family is carried forward by their next generation too. Head of that specific family used to be referred to as Gouda. If the same family as more than two sons, elder used to named as Pedda (in Telugu) Gouda and younger as Chinna Gouda. Some of the common names like Pedda Mallayya Goud and China Mallayya Goud or Pedda Laxman Goud and Chinna Laxman Goud implies and supports that Ayya title stands for father, elder or head in Telugu language. Ayya is also written as Aiah in Telugu. There are lot of gouds who use these titles in names itself like Balayya Goud, Shankaraiah Goud and Chinna Mallaya Goud.
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