<P> In British Malabar the format followed is: Family name, Given name, Caste / title name (if applicable). Therefore, Kannott Karunakaran Marar, can be interpreted as Karunakaran of the Marar caste from the Kannoth family . </P> <P> For centuries, the naming system in Kochi and Travancore has had the format: Family / House name (optional), father's name, given name . E.g.: AK Antony: Arackaparambil (House Name) Kurian (Father's Name) Antony (First Name). Today, this age - old practice from the Southern Kerala has been adopted by people in Malabar too . Another practice observed in parts of Travancore is where spouses and children take on the first name of the father as their last or surname . </P> <P> While Travancore and Kochi Muslims followed the common practice above, among the Malabar Muslims, it was a common practice in naming to mix (or localize) Arabic names (Given names) with Malayalam language ones, like "Putiyavittil Muḥammadutti" or "Fāṭimah Todiyattu" to "Pattumma Todiyattu". But currently complete Arabic names (Given names) are most probably used, in a Given name - Family name or Family name - Given name manner (Mohamed Azlam P). Among Christians in Kerala, it is a common practice to have a second given name (middle name) which is the baptismal name, usually the first name of a grandparent or godparent, like Roshni Mary George, Jogin Abraham Thomas, Shikku Varghese Manapuram . Sometimes the suffix--kutty is added to Christian names of Kerala Christians, for example Marykutty, Alicekutty, Josekutty and Georgekutty . </P> <P> Most Keralites have a family name . Most of the family names are of obscure origin, but many have geographical origins--e.g., Vadakkedath (from the North), Puthenveetil (from the new house), Akkarakaran (from that coast), etc . Traditionally the full names followed one of three patterns: </P>

Where does the last name class come from