About Us
Mukkadan family has origins as early as the ancient Marthoma Nasrani family Pakalomattam who were brought into the Christian faith by Saint Thomas the Apostle in AD 52. We are proud of our rich tradition of being a family from the Syrian Catholic community with majority of our ancestral roots based out of the historic town of Changanacherry. Mukkadans, as we are affectionately known, has an identifiable history of more than three hundred years and consist of 360 families, currently spread across the world..
A branch of the Pakalomattam family of Kuravilangad, who were baptized by the disciple of Christ, St. Thomas the Apostle, was brought to Kainakary by the King of Thekkumkur, according to his special wishes, for trade, needs of the temple as well as needs and security of the state. It is said that one of this family members had been the commander of the king's army. His name was Thomman Mappila. The place where Thomman Mappila lived was called "Mukkattu" purayidam.
Thomman Mappila, who lived in Mukkattu, had three sons. The eldest son Thommi lived in Meenappally, the second son Kurian in Kalacherry and the youngest son Mathai in the ancestral home. Thommi's eldest son Chacko, lived in Manthara, the second son Thommi in Kaliparambil, the third son Ousep in Chavara and the fourth in the ancestral home at Meenapally.
Chandappillai, one of the sons, who moved away from the core family at Mukkattu, married from Muttarukulangara, Changanacherry. He had two children named Chackochan and Chandappillai. Chandappillai, the father, passed away at a young age soon after the birth of his children. Therefore, the father-in-law, with the permission of the family, brought his daughter and grandchildren to Changanacherry and settled them in Muttarukulangara house in Ithithanam. Chackochan and Chandappillai are the ancestors of the Mukkadan family in Changanacherry. Later, Chackochan settled in the Changanacherry market area and Chandappillai in the central Changanacherry (kavala) area. Now, about 360 families across Changanacherry and various parts of Kerala, India and abroad are known by the surname "Mukkadan".
The "Mukkattu" people who came and settled in Changanacherry were called "Mukkadan" by the locals and we started to be known as Mukkadans. Later, with pride we adopted the name "Mukkadan" as our family name. But even today, we can see the writing "Mukkattu" in our ancient official documents and other documents.
"Mukkattu"="Mukkadan"
We have available information by word of mouth from our ancestors that since the beginning of 1900s, the descendants of Chackochan and Chandappillai, who lived in Changanacherry market area and Changanacherry kavala area, used to get together and discuss family matters. A good example of this is the ceremony in 1928 when the Mukkadan family members paid a visit to venerable Mar. James Kalacherry, Bishop of Changanacherry. They visited him at the Bishop’s palace in Changanacherry and presented him with a Felicitation Letter (Mangala Patram). The picture of our ancestors taken along with the Bishop on that day is safely kept in our homes with great respect and pride.
Later, when the children from next generations had to relocate from Changanacherry to various places, the gatherings became less frequent. Thus, the idea of a ‘family meeting’ came into discussion to help family members understand each other and renew their relationships. On 04 March 1955, during the boat trip from Changanacherry Boat Jetty to Champakulam for the wedding of Kuttichayan's (settled at Ithithanam) youngest daughter Kunjamma, our ancestors discussed and decided to hold the first ‘Mukkadan Family Meet’ (Mukkadan Kudumbayogam).
Subsequently, on 15 May 1955, the first Mukkadan Family Meet was held at Chacko Varghese Mukkadan's residence near Parel Church. Ousep Thomas (Kunjommachayan) was elected as the first president. Following his sudden demise, Ousep Devasya (Kuttichayan) was elected as the president. Subsequently, family meetings were held on 13 May 1956 at the residence of Joseph Chacko (Chackochayan) in Puzhavathu, on 16 June 1957 at the residence of Mathew J. Mukkadan (Mathaichayan) in Paippadu, in 1958 at the residence of Mathai Joseph (Johny) in Veroor, in 1981 at the residence of Joseph Chacko (Chackochayan) in Puzhavathu. On 25 April 1982 during the Mukkadan Family Meet held at the residence of M.T. Kuriakose in Kavala it was discussed to collate the family history. The draft of the family history was prepared in the meetings held on 03 January 1983 and 19 September 1983. The final decision to publish the family history was taken on 15 August 1990 at a meeting held at the residence of Sebastian Kurian (Appachankutty).
The publication of the family history took place on 09 September 1990. Subsequently, in 2003, a detailed family history book was published along with photographs of the family members. The sincere efforts of Mathew J. Mukkadan (Mathaichayan), Jose Mukkadan, Mathews Mukkadan, Thomas S Mukkadan and Prof. Varghese Thomas who made this a reality are commendable.
Thereafter, every year, a general meeting of the heads of the families and once in three years, a general meeting with entire family members is regularly conducted where the office bearers of Mukkadan Family Meet for the next term is elected.