Gounder

Gounder is a title used by various communities in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It may refer to various communities such as Vettuva Gounder, Kongu Vellalar, Thuluva Vellalar, Urali Gounders, Kurumba, Vanniyars, Vokkaligas.

Etymology
There are a number of derivations for the title. One theory derives it from the Tamil word Kaamindan, meaning "noble protector of the country", later modified as Kavundan or Gounder.

According to S. N. Sadasivan, some of these Vellalars branched off from the Vokkaligas and both might have a common origin from the Kurumba.

History
During the British Raj era, some Gounders migrated to Malayan rubber plantations as Kanganis to manage the coolies.