The Poothicote Family originates from the rice belt of Mepral, near Niranam and Thiruvalla, in the heartland of the former Travancore State. The family was founded by Judge Kochitty Kuruvilla, who hailed from Kalikavu family in Kuravilangad(Originally migrated from Palayoor, near Kodungalloor). Judge Kuruvilla, a man of impeccable credibility and known for his just decisions, earned the trust of the Travancore Royalty, who appointed him to administer the Mavelikkara and later Quilon provinces. His name and the family name, which he adopted as 'Poothicote,' gained widespread recognition.
Locals often sought the Judge's intervention to resolve their disputes. A story recounts a dispute among some workers regarding their dues, which had to be settled by paddy measured by “Para”. Both parties knew that accurate measurements were likely uncommon in those times, so they agreed that the Para to be used in settling their dispute should belong to Poothicote Thambran. The renowned Malayalam author, the late Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, mentions the famous "Poothicote Para" in another context in his novel "Kayar." He describes a scene where the dowry was decided for a working-class bride, and the natives of the village could not believe that the dowry paid by her father was 50 Paras of paddy measured by Poothicote Thambran's Para!
A family with numerous branches and sub-branches naturally exhibits a diverse range of personalities and characteristics. Like many Syrian Christian families in Kerala, and indeed, many families in India, the Poothicote Family has traditionally followed a patriarchal system. Judge Kochitty Kuruvilla, who lived from ME 960 to 1026 (1785-1851 CE), is considered the patriarch of the family. The family's values and ethos have been passed down through generations since the 18th century. While the Poothicote Family officially began during the lifetime of Judge Kochitty Kuruvilla, its origins and traditions have been recounted and cherished by its members for many generations.
One method of verifying the authenticity of family history is to examine whether similar values and folklore are shared by other contemporary families in Kerala. Notably, families descended from Judge Kochitty Kuruvilla's siblings adhere to many of the same beliefs. Furthermore, numerous traditional Kerala families connected to the Poothicote family through marriage also uphold these shared values.
Driven by a desire to understand and document our family's origins, growth, and cherished values, the members of the Poothicote family (Poothiyot and Poothicote in Malayalam) have undertaken this endeavor. This history is intended for our members, future generations, and anyone interested in learning more about our family. While some individual members have previously attempted to compile family histories and post them online, these efforts may lack consistency and comprehensive verification. This website has been officially authorized by the General Body meeting of the Poothicote Kudumbayogam, held in Manimala in October 2017. Our family has been conducting annual Kudumbayogams for many years .We have conducted 121 uninterrupted annual Kudumbayogams as of 2024, and the latest was held on 11th May 2024. By convention, the oldest living member of the family will be the president of the Kudumbayogam. Apart from the President, there will be Vice Presidents, a Secretary, Joint Secretary and committee members. Below are the names of the current Executive Committee members and Regular committee members