[1] Originally a patrilineal community found in Travancore and Malabar region of present-day Kerala, whose traditional function was that of temple servents, they became matrilineal towards the end of the 18th century under the influence of Nair caste.
Their rank lies between the Nambudhiri, Varma, Pillai, Sacred thread wearing Ambalavasi castes of Travancore and Malabar and the thread-less Ambalavasi caste.
[2][1] Kurukkal women had hypergamous marriages with higher caste men of Travancore and men struck similar relationships with women from the matrilineal Maran caste.
[2] The community's position in the Hindu ritual ranking system known as varna is disputed.
In Kerala, they generally claim to be Tamil Iyer Brahmins and Ambalavasi caste.