Religion and communal structure of the Gounders:

The Gounders are followers of the traditional form of Hinduism. In earlier times a sizable population followed Jainism (Vijayamangalam, Jinapuram). The Gounders follow the system of Gotra, popularly called "Kootam" in which persons from the same Kootam do not marry one another as they are considered to have descended from the same ancestor. Each Kootam has its own Kulaguru, who is traditionally respected. (This fact is generally skipped by Dravidian historians). Every Kootam also has a Kuladeivam or a Clan Deity. Some of the Kootams include:

Adhitreya Kumban

Aadai

Aadhi

Adhirai

Aavan

Andai``

Agni

Aavan

Anangan

Andhuvan

Ariyan(arya)

Alagan

Bharatan (descendants of Bharata)

Bramman(brahman)

Devendran

Dananjayan (descendants of Arjuna)

Danavantan

Eenjan

Ennai

Indran

Kaadan

Kadai (Kaadava kings-descendants of Mahabharata's Keechaka)

Kaari

Kaavalar

Kadunthuvi

Kalinji

Kambakulathaan

Kanakkan

Kanavaalan

Kannan (descendants of Krishna-original Ganga dynasty)

Kannandhai

Karunkannan

Kauri

Kavalan

Kiliyan

Keeran

Kodarangi

Koorai

Kuruppan

Kotrandhai

Kottaarar

Kovar

Koventhar

Kumarandhai

Kundali

Kungili

Kuniyan

Kunnukkan

Kuyilan

Kuzhlaayan

Maadai

Maadhaman

Maathuli

Maavalar

Maniyan

Mayilan

Mazhluazhlagar

Medhi

Meenavan

Moimban

Moolan

Mooriyan

Mukkannan

Munaiveeran

Muthan

Muzhlukkadhan (same as porulthantha)

Naarai

Nandhan

Neelan

Neerunni

Neidhali

Neriyan

Odhaalar

Ozhukkar

Paaliyan

Paamban

Paanan

Paandian (Pandya dynasty)

Paadhari

Padhuman

Padukkunni

Paidhali

Panaiyan

Panangadan (Elumathur Kadais and Maruthurai Kadais-distinct from Kadais)

Panjaman

Pannai

Pannan

Paamaran

Pavalan

Payiran (Mandradiyar's kootam)

Periyan

Perunkudi

PIllan

Podiyan

Ponnan

Poochadhai (Bhoothan+thanthai-descendants of Jain God Arhadeva)

Poodhiyan

Poosan

Porulthantha (same as mulukadhan)

Punnai

Puthan

Saakadai (same as Kaadai)

Sathandhai (Saathan+thanthai-descendants of Jain tirthankara Rishaba deva)

Sathuvaraayan (meaning:good rulers)

Sanagan (Janakar's descendants)

Sedan

Sellan

Sempoothan

Semvan

Sengannan

Sengunni

Seralan (probably same as seran)

Seran (Chera dynasty)

Sevadi

Sevvayan

Silamban

Soman (Chandra vamsam)

Soolan

Sooriyan (Surya vamsham)

Sothi

Sowriyan (Surya vamsham)

Surapi

Thanakkavan

Thavalayan

Thazhinji

Themaan

Thodai

Thooran

Thorakkan

Thunduman

Uvanan

Uzhavan

Vaanan(Vaani)(Baana dynasty)

Vannakkan

Veliyan

Vellamban

Vendhai

Viliyan

villi

Vilosanan(Vilochana)

Viradhan (descandants of Viratas of Mahabharata's)

Viraivulan

Royal houses and gotras

Various royal dynasties settled in Kongu nadu mainly to flee Kalabhara (forefathers of Kallar, Maravar, Agamudayar and Vanniyar) influx. They also amalgamated into the Gounder caste.

Kaalingarayar-Kings of Kalinga dynasty

Vaanavarayar-Bana dynasty

Pallavarayar-Pallava dynasty

Mandradiyar-cheiftain

Chera kootam-Chera dynasty

Pandya kootam-Pandya dynasty

The indegenous dynasties were

Kannan(Kanvayana)-original Ganga rulers

Kadai-Kaadava dynasty (Keechaka vamsam)

Viradan-matsya dynasty (Mahabharatam)

Bharata-sons of Bharata

Courtesy: wikipedia