This is a brief taken from the Moothedathu Kudumba Charithram(Published Family History). Detailed history for interested family members is available as a book(hard cover-pub 1995) which can be ordered via the website. It is believed that St. Thomas, the disciple of Jesus Christ who came to India in 52 AD, landed in the port town of Kodungalloor and established(Ref 3,Ref 1-A) a Christian community there by Baptizing Brahmin Families.It is believed that Our family was one of the first to accept christianity. For business matters, Moothedathu Eapen came to Kayamkulam, which was the biggest commercial center of South Kerala then. At Kayamkulam, Moothedathu Paruthimootil Family along with another family(Kililethu) took initiative in the construction of a church in the year 825AD there, led by two Kadissas – Mar Sapore and Mar Afrod – with the permission of the then local King Sankaravisree, thus the name ‘Kadissa Palli‘. The Church records say that these two families held the trusteeship of the church.There is a Rock Inscription outside the church which also states the fact that, Moothedathu Paruthimootil family was one of the founding families of the church. Moothedathu family with their commercial ventures gained the goodwill of the then King and the local populace. The King helped them in the trading of pepper and bestowed them with land to construct the church.
Moothedathu Eapen married Aleyamma, the only daughter of Valiaveettil Potha, a rich landlord and agriculturist of Kalloopara. His third son Eapen, a very smart yongster, established Moothedathu family at Kalloopara. Eapen was bestowed with the Honorific title “THARAKAN”(Noble Trader) by the Raja of Edappally in the 15th Century and came to be known as “Kocheeappen Tharakan”.
Note:-Below is only a brief history of each branch.
Kocheeapen Tharakan had four sons and his third son Mathulla is the founder of Kandathil Kudumbam. Mathulla converted a paddy field into a residential plot at Vallamkulam to build a house; hence the family name “KANDATHIL”. The nearly two century old Kandathil Tharavadu is still preserved in its original form at Vallamkulam.Kandathil Mammen Mappila Established the Famous News paper Malayala Manorama in 1888. His brother KM Mammen Mappilla established the world class Tyre Manufacturing company MRF Tyres in 1946.Kandathil Mammen Mappila’s sons were honored by government of India by bestowing Padama Bhushan and Padma Shree. K. M. Cherian (Awarded Padma Shree, Padma Bhushan),K. M. Mathew ((Awarded Padma Shree),K. M. Mammen Mappillai (Awarded Padma Shree).