ABOUT POOVAN FAMILY

Poovan family is said to be a devout and practicing Catholic family belonging to the Syro-Malabar rite. The members of Poovan family are mainly settled in Muvattupuzha in the district of Ernakulam. In the beginning they were mainly farmers but they came to the urban area in order to do business. For the purpose of job they are also spread in various parts of Kerala, other states in India, the USA, Canada, England, Germany, Ireland, Australia, Ethiopia, Switzerland and many of the gulf countries.

There is only a vague information about the origin and flourishing of Poovan Family as it is seen today. It is believed that poovan family is hailed from mylakombu near Thodupuzha. A Grandfather named Mathai migrated to Kavumkara in Muvattupuzha with the intention of doing business. It was found in the earlier documents that the present poovan family had three other names attached to it. The land documents give the other names for the poovan family viz, padinjarechalil- puthenpurayil- pazhayambalathil veetil poovan Gradually the other old parental names were deleted from the subsequent documents and the name poovan became the final name for this family. From the available information we know that Mathai had three children. (We do not know whether he had three children as we have information only about three children). One of his sons shifted to Nadavakadu and another son migrated to Manathavady. Others started living at Muvattupuzha. Of these Varkey (I), one of the three children of Mathai, had five children. They are Mathai, Varkey (II), Annakkutty, Ouseph and Ulahannan.

Mathai, the eldest son of Varkey (I) had two children, namely Varkey (III) and Thomas. Varkey(II) who is the second son of Varkey (I) had twelve children. They are Varkey(IV), Peter, Mariam, Kunjumathai, Kochuvarkey, Annakutty, Kunjappachan (Joseph), Antony, Sosamma, Kunjamma, Andrews and Alexander(Baby). Third Child of Varkey (I) is Annkutty who is married.The details about Annakutty is yet to be traced. The fourth son of Varkey (I) had ten children and they are Varkey (V), Joseph, Mary, Elikutty, Mathai, John(Onan), Antony, Peter (Pathros), Thomas, Annakutty. The fourth son of Varkey (I) had only four daughters and they are Mariakutty, Elikutty, Annakutty and Mary. Varkey (III)’s children are Mathew, Elamma and the children of Thoams are Mathew, Elikutty, Varkey (VI), Antony, Mary, Jose, Lilly, Thoms (Baby) and Paulose. The information given above is very vague and it will take more time to trace the correct links. There is nothing mentioned about the whereabouts of the family members and their occupation. This is only a primary step. We have to go into the sources like the land documents and the Church’s registers to get correct information. We need historical evidences to prove the origins of our family. I hope there are resource persons who may be able contribute a lot to this humble effort.

I am searching for more documents to get further information. I will try to add it later.
- Fr Paul Poovan