Region of origin India | Language(s) of origin Sanskrit | |
Meaning toponymic; literally "Head of the fort" | ||
Hegde or Hegade is a surname from coastal Karnataka in India. It is found among Hindus of the Bunt community.
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Etymology
The word "Hegade" is derived from the words "hegg" ("head") and "gaḍ" ("fort"); thus, it means "head of the fort".
History
During the period of the Vijayanagara Empire, the warriors who used to protect a fort were called Hegades or Hegdes. It was also a title used by the Bunt chieftains and other village heads. Hegde is also used as a surname by the Madhwas and Havyaka Brahmins. The surname also occurs among some Ramakshatriya (Kotegar) in Udupi, Kundapur region and Vokkaligas (in Shimoga). The surname is also used by Kurubas of Mandya and Mysore. Hegde is also the name of a village in Kumta, Karnataka.
Notable people
The following is a list of notable people with last name Hegde.