Karnataka State Gazetteer: Bangalore District: (1990), gives the following account of Ranabhaire Gowda's family:
"Tradition described them as hailing from Tamil Nadu, Yenamanji Putturu near Kanchi and also as decendents of the founder of the Avathi Nadaprbhus. But the whole story that seven members of a family could establish seven separate dynasties cannot be accepted as historically true. They belonged to Morasu Vokkalu community. Morasunadu being mostly a part of present Bangalore District, having parts of Bangalore South, Hosakote and Anekal Taluk areas on the Western fringe of kolar District touching these Taluk and parts of Hosur and Denkanikote Taluks of Dharmapuri District in Tamil Nadu. Utturu in Yenamanji Nadu in present Mulabagal Taluk could be the place of their origin. It is likely that the family also spoke Jelugu as it was a popular literary medium in Vijayanagar times. But all the Morasu Vokkalus are Kannada speaking. Morasu Vokkalus are highly attached to the Bhairava at Seethibetta, Kolar taluk, not far away from Utturu."
