Elur Chetty (also called Elur Chettu or Ezhur Chetty or Ezhoor Chetty) is a Tamil-speaking Hindu community in South India. They are said to have migrated from Kaveripoompattanam in Thanjavur District and settled in Kanyakumari District. They come under the common name of Chetty which includes other communities such as Kottar Chetty, Parakka Chetty, Vellalar Chetty, Pathira Chetty, Valayal Chetty, Pudukottai Chetty, Nattukkottai Chetty etc. They were once a trading community and were distinct from the other Chetty communities. The name is derived from "Ezhu ooru" meaning "seven towns". The seven towns were in and around the Kanyakumari District in South Tamilnadu, India: Eraniel, Thiruvithancode, Padmanabhapuram, Colachel, Ganapathipuram, Midalam, and Parakkai. They are called Keezhatheru Chetty. Later Kottar, Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram (Melatheru), Therusanamkoppu, Nagercoil, Chennai, Thalakkulam, Eraniel (Melatheru), Chennai (Melatheru) were added. The members are spread all over India and the world. They have also diversified their profession and is not limited to trading.
Elur Chetty Sangham was started as a registered association in 1952 with its office in Eraniel. The association was originally started as All Travancore Ezhur Chettu Samudhaya Central Association in 1935 (1100 Vaikasi 29). Elur Chetty was classified as Backward Class (OBC)in Tamilnadu and Kerala in 1993 as per Mandal Commission considering the social and financial backwardness of the community.
Read more about Elur Chetty: Surname, History, Odupparai Nagaramman Temple, Odupparai Kozhukkattai (offering) Ingredients, List of Elur Chetty Temples, Association Presidents, Community Halls, Notable Persons in Ezhur Chetty Samudhaayam