Gowda (surname)
Gowda, also spelled as Gauda (Kannada: ಗೌಡ) is a title and a surname widely used in the Karnataka state of India.
Gowda was originally a title used by the administrative head of a village. Typically, such a head owns lands, and holds political and social power in the village.[1]
Now, Gowda is also used as a hereditary surname by descendants of the village chiefs. The surname is found widely among Vokkaligas, and other group of communities of Karnataka. Variants of the surname include Gowder or Gauder (Usually in North Karnataka and Nilgiris) and Gowdru (honorific, plural).
Etymology
According to a popular theory, the word "Gowda" derives from go, the Sanskrit word for cow. However, German Indologist Gustav Oppert derived it from a Dravidian word meaning "mountain".[2]
Notable people
Notable people with this surname include:
- Akshara Gowda - Indian film actress who has appeared in Hindi and Tamil films
- Bhavya Gowda - Indian Born Model
- D. B. Chandre Gowda - Former Speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assembly
- D. V. Sadananda Gowda - Former Chief minister of Karnataka, Union Law Minister
- H. D. Deve Gowda - Former Prime minister of India, Former Chief Minister of Karnataka
- H. L. Nage_Gowda - Indian Administrative Service officer, Founder of Janapada Loka, Writer
- Javare Gowda - Kannada author and winner of the Padma Shri and the Karnataka Ratna and Nadoja awards
- Junje Gowda - Tribal leader who built the Male Mahadeshwara Temple
- Kempe Gowda I - Founder of the Bengaluru city
- K. C. N. Gowda - Kannada Film Producer
- K. Chidananda Gowda - Former Vice Chancellor, Kuvempu University
- Krishna Byre Gowda - Is the current Minister of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka
- Narayana Gowda - President of the pro-Kannada organization Karnataka Rakshana Vedike
- Rajeev Gowda - Chairperson of the Centre for Public Policy at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore
- Ramachandra Gowda - Former Minister for Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka
- Ravishankar Gowda - Indian film actor
- Shantaveri Gopala Gowda - Socialist leader and politician
- Sheela Gowda - Contemporary artist living and working in Bangalore
- Shilpi Somaya Gowda - Canadian novelist
- Tejashwini Gowda - Member of the 14th Lok Sabha of India
- Venkate Gopala Gowda - Judge of the Supreme Court of India, Former Chief Justice of Orissa High Court
- Vikas Gowda - International Indian Athlete
References
- ^ K. T. Margaret, ed. (1999). The Open Classroom: A Journey Through Education. Orient Blackswan. p. 131. ISBN 978-81-250-1669-4.
- ^ Kumar Suresh Singh; Anthropological Survey of India (2002). People of India. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 408. ISBN 978-81-85938-99-8.
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