EARLY HISTORY

Our ancestors were Brahmins originating from Ponnani District in Malabar.  They mainly came from four families known as Pakalomattom, Shankarapuri, Katappur and Kalikavu.  They converted to Christianity.  Due to the presecution of Christians, they were forced to leave their native place around A.D. 400 and move to a place called Kuravilangadu.

It is believed that the first Church at Kuravilangadu built around A.D. 337 was built by members of the Pakalomattom family.  Later, the family members spread to other areas to escape from the persecution of European Catholic invaders.  This was between A.D. 1525 - 1625.

Around A.D. 1700, our ancestors from the Pakalomattom family moved from Kuravilangadu and settled at Kaviyoor, in a place called Kanalibhagom; Christians were respected by the local Hindu community.  They were asked to touch and purify offerings like coconut oil and ghee before it was used in the famous Kaviyoor Temple as per the old temple records.  For this they were accorded certain privileges.  Christians were also welcomed by the local Kings as they were good merchants and brought prosperity through trade to their kingdom.  Top

PURATHETTU FAMILY

The family which moved down from Kuravilangadu to Kaviyoor set up the Purathettu family around A.D. 1700.  It is to be believed that one our ancestors known as Chandy had three children from his two marriages.  One son, Kurian stayed at Kochiyil faily; and one of the twins born from his second marriage, stayed at a place called pallathu and the other at Purathettu. Top

KOCHIYIL FAMILY

Our early family name was 'Valiya Veedu'.  In the early days, Kaviyoor was ruled by the     King of Edappally.  He once visited a place in Kaviyoor during the monsoons.  During one of his evening walks, he met our great ancestor 'Valiya Veettil Tharakan' .  While making conversation, the king remarked that Tharakan's house looked like Kochi.  This was because all the paddy fields were submerged in water and there was a small island known as 'Kakka Thiruthu' (Crow Island) visible from where they stood.  The King's comparison was with Wellington Island of Kochi in those days.

As the King has used the comparison, the people in the neighbourhood started referring to  Valiya Veedu as Kochiyil Family.  This is how the name of Kochiyil Kudumbam (Kochiyil Family) came to be.