Clans/Kootams
Unlike other Vellalar of whose totemic clan and tribal origins have been eclipsed and totally erased by Sanskritisation, Kongu Vellalar still maintain their tribal and clan divisions. Their marriage customs are unique amongst other communities in Tamil Nadu. They have about major 64 subsects out of (koottam) 145, and do not marry within their koottam. The Tamil word Kootam is used to denote a clan
| 1. Adhitreya Kumban 2. Aadai 3. Aadhi 4. Adhirai 5. Aavan 6. Andai 7. Akini 8. Aavan 9. Anangan 10. Andhuvan 11. Ariyan 12. Alagan 13. Bharatan 14. Bramman 15. Devendran 16. Dananjayan 17. Danavantan 18. Eenjan 19. Ennai 20. Indran 21. Kaadan 22. Kadai 23. Kaari 24. Kaavalar 25. Kadunthuvi 26. Kalinji 27. Kambakulathaan 28. Kanakkan 29. Kanavaalan 30. Kannan 31. Kannandhai 32. Karunkannan 33. Kauri 34. Kavalan 35. Kiliyan 36. Keeran 37. Kodarangi 38. Koorai 39. Kuruppan 40. Kotrandhai 41. Kottaarar 42. Kovar 43. Koventhar 44. Kumarandhai 45. Kundali 46. Kungili 47. Kuniyan 48. Kunnukkan 49. Kuyilan |
50. Kuzhlaayan 51. Maadai 52. Maadhaman 53. Maathuli 54. Maavalar 55. Maniyan 56. Mayilan 57. Mazhluazhlagar 58. Medhi 59. Meenavan 60. Moimban 61. Moolan 62. Mooriyan 63. Mukkannan 64. Munaiveeran 65. Muthan 66. Muzhlukkadhan 67. Naarai 68. Nandhan 69. Neelan 70. Neerunni 71. Neidhali 72. Neriyan 73. Odhaalar 74. Ozhukkar 75. Paaliyan 76. Paamban 77. Paanan 78. Paandian 79. Paadhari 80. Padhuman 81. Padukkunni 82. Paidhali 83. Panaiyan 84. Panangadan 85. Elumathur Kadais 86. Maruthurai Kadais 87. Panjaman 88. Pannai 89. Pannan 90. Paamaran 91. Pavalan 92. Payiran 93. Periyan 94. Varagunna Perungudi 95. Pillan 96. Podiyan 97. Ponnan 98. Poochadhai |
99. Poodhiyan 100. Poosan 101. Porulthantha or mulukadhan 102. Punnai 103. Puthan 104. Saakadai or Kaadai 105. Sathandhai 106. Sathuvaraayan 107. Sanagan 108. Sedan 109. Sellan 110. Semponn 111. Sempoothan 112. Semvan 113. Sengannan 114. Sengunni 115. Seralan 116. Seran 117. Sevadi 118. Sevvayan 119. Silamban 120. Soman 121. Soolan 122. Sooriyan 123. Sothi 124. Sowriyan 125. Surapi 126. Thanakkavan 127. Thavalayan 128. Thazhinji 129. Themaan 130. Thodai(n) 131. Thooran 132. Thorakkan 133. Thunduman 134. Uvanan 135. Uzhavan 136. Vaanan or Vaani 137. Vannakkan 138. Veliyan 139. Vellamban 140. Vendhai 141. Viliyan 142. villi 143. Vilosanan 144. Viradhan 145. Viraivulan |
People belonging to the same kootam usually will not inter-marry. Each kootam has its own Kulaguru and Kuladeivam or deity(Mother Godess). In temples, it is a common practice to pray their 'idols' which is specific to a koottam. Some kootams betray a totemic origin, where as others appear to be names of lineage founders or place name of the clan's original inhabitance yet others show other ethnic origins such as Kannadiga and Toda. From the clan name it appears at some point in history many different people came together to coalesce in to this social group.
Apparently some of these clan titles are common with Vettuva Goundan or a local hunter gatherer group found in the same area, hinting at a common origin at some point between the settled and hunting populations of the area.
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