Chowta (surname)

Chowta is a surname predominantly found among the Tulu-speaking Bunt community of Karnataka, India. The Chowtas were a Jain dynasty who ruled over the region of Ullal in Dakshina Kannada district for several centuries. They were feudatories of various larger empires, including the Alupas, the Vijayanagara Empire, and later the Keladi Nayakas. The name "Chowta" is derived from the Kannada word "Chavata," referring to a raised platform or meeting place. Individuals with the surname Chowta may be descendants of or have ancestral connections to this historical ruling family or related communities.