Hegde (Kannada: ಹೆಗ್ಡೆ, ಹೆಗಡೆ) also spelled Heggade is a surname or family name which has its origins in the Indian state of Karnataka.
The word "Hegde" is derived from the words "hegg" ("head") and "gad" ("fort"); thus, it means "head of the fort". During the period of the Vijayanagara Empire, the warriors who used to protect a fort were called Hegdes. It was also a title used by Bunt chieftains and other village heads. In modern times, Hegde is used as a surname mainly by the Bunts (both Hindu and Jain) and the Havyaka Brahmin. The surname also occurs among some ramakshathriya (kotegar) in udupi,kundapur region Vokkaligas (in Shimoga) and Goud Saraswat Brahmins.
Hegde is also the name of a village in Kumta, Karnataka.
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