The caste name proposes several etymology theories. One view holds that the name Mukkuvar is derived from the Dravidian term muluku or mukku meaning "to dive", suggesting their traditional occupation in diving for pearls and seashell. Other titles used by the community are Kukankulam, Murkukan and Mukkiyar. Their titles Kukankulam and Murkukan are literary references to Kukan, the mariner who ferried Hindu godRama across Ganges from Ayodhya whose descendant they claim. The Mukkuvars are divided into exogamous clans known as llam meaning "house". The Mukkuvars of Northern Malabar are known as Nalillakkar constituted of the clans known as Ponillam, Chembillam, Karillam and Kachillam. The Mukkuvars of Southern Malabar have only three clans, with the absence of Ponillam, and are therefore known as Munillakar.
History
Early history
The Mukkuvars of Kerala contribute their origin to Sri Lanka from where they migrated to Kerala. As suggested by their name were they probably involved in diving for pearls and conch.
Medieval history
In the 8th century made mercentile Arabs appearances in Kerala, where they among other married natives such as those from the Mukkuvar community, and formed social groups such as the Mappilas. The Mukkuvars were in addition to fishing and seafaring, involved in warfare. Native rulers such as the Zamorin of Calicut promoted Mukkuvars in coversion to Islam in order to man their navies. Up to 1000 AD were the Mukkuvars recruited to the naval fleets of the Chera dynasty. South Indian communities were often invited to Sri Lanka as mercenaries. The Sinhala text known as Dambadeni Asna refers to Mukkuvar warriors serving in the army of Parakramabahu II of Dambadeniya. As mentioned in Mattakallappu Manmiyam, they also served in the 13th century in the army of the invader Kalinga Magha, who seized control of northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka. The Kerala-derived Mukkuvars, whose descendants are the Sri Lankan Mukkuvars, under Kalinga Magha were made chieftains known as Vanniar in the Batticaloa region, where they also formed matrilinear landlords known as Podiyar and exhibited significant political domination. Mukkuvars in alliance with Arabs encamped at the Puttalam region where in an campaign initated by Parakramabahu VI of Kotte, battled and chased away by Karaiyar mercenaries, mentioned in Mukkara Hatana. Mukkuvar women intermarried with their allied Arabs, whose descendants reside in the Sri Lankan Moor ethnicity.
