In the Cochin Census Report, 1901, Mr. M. Sankara Menon writes that the Marars are "Sudras, and, properly speaking, they ought to be classed along with Nayars. Owing, however, to their close connection with services in temples, and the absence of free interdining or intermarriage with Nayars, they are classed along with Ambalavasis. They are drummers, musicians, and storekeepers in temples. Like Tiyattu Nambiyars, some sections among them also draw figures of the goddess in Bhagavati temples, and chant songs. In some places they are also known as Kuruppus. Some sub-castes among them do not dine, or intermarry. As they have generally to serve in temples, they bathe if they touch Nayars. In the matter of marriage (tali-kettu and sambandham), inheritance, period of pollution, etc., they follow customs exactly like those of Nayars. In the southern taluks Elayads officiate as purohits, but, in the northern taluks, their own castemen take the part of the Elayads in their sradha ceremonies. The tali-kettu is likewise performed by Tirumalpads in the southern taluks, but by their own castemen, called Enangan, in the northern taluks. Their castemen or Brahmans unite themselves with their women in sambandham. As among Nayars, purificatory ceremonies after funerals, etc., are performed by Cheethiyans or Nayar priests." For the following detailed note on the Marans of Travancore I am indebted to Mr. N. Subramani Iyer, The name Maran has nothing to do with maranam or death, as has been supposed, but is derived from the Tamil root mar, to beat. In the Tanjore inscriptions of the eleventh century, the caste on the Coromandel coast appears to have been known by this name. The Marans correspond to the Occhans of the Tamil country, and a class of Marans in North Malabar are sometimes called by this designation. In the old revenue records of the Travancore State, Mangalyam appears to be the term made use of. The two well-known titles of the caste are Kuruppu and Panikkar, both conveying the idea of a person who has some allotted work to perform. In modern days, English-educated men appear to have given these up for Pillai, the titular affix added to the name of the Sudra population generally.