What is "gowda"

Gowda or Gauda or Gouda ( Kannada: ಗೌಡ) is a honorific or surname from Karnataka in India. It is found among Hindus of the Vokkaliga community.

Gowda was originally a honorific used by the administrative head of a village. Typically, such a head owns lands and holds political and social power in the village.

Now, Gowda is also used as a hereditary surname by descendants of the village chiefs. Variants of the surname include Gowder or Gauder or Gowdar(usually in North Karnataka and Nilgiris) and Gowdru (honorific, plural).