There is a misconception about the term Smartha.
The term Smartha is taken to mean Brahmins who worship Siva.
Ramanuja, founder of the Vishishtadvaita philosophy found sanctuary in Karnataka at a time when the Hoysala empire, ruled by Vishnuvardhana, were at their zenith. Adi Shankaracharya, founder of the Advaita philosophy chose Sringeri as the site for the first Matha. Madhvacharya, founder of the Dvaita philosophy, was the son of Karnataka. As such,south Indian Brahmin belongs to any one of three specific sects (schools of philosophy), being:
- the Smartha sect – adherents of the Advaita philosophy propounded by Sri Adi Shankaracharya.
- the Srivaishnava sect – adherents of the Vishishtadvaita philosophy propounded by Sri Ramanujacharya.
- the Madhwa sect – adherents of the Dvaita philosophy propounded by Sri Madhvacharya.'(wiki)
This is incorrect.
A ‘Smartha’ is one who follows ‘Smriti’, ‘Smriti yeti Smarthaha’.
Those who follow the general code , other than ‘Sruthi’ (Vedas) a or both are called Smarthas,
The systems of Advaita,Visishtadvaita and Dvaita came later, these systems having been  organised by Adi Sankaracharya, Ramanuja and Madvacharya respectively.
All are Smarthas.
Those who follow Sankaracharya ,Siva are Saivites(here I mean those who worship Siva and not those who follow Saiva Siddhanta).
Those who worship Vishnu are Sri Vaishnavas.
And those who follow Madvacharya’s Dvaita are Madhwas.
- Kandavara/Shivalli Brahmins from coastal Karnataka
- Babboor Kamme
- Badaganadu
- Hoysala Karnataka
- Kota brahmin – Smartha sect brahmins from the central part of coastal Karnataka
- Halenadu Karnataka Brahmin also known as Mooguru (Muguru) Karnataka Brahmins
- Panchagrama Brahmins
- Sankethi
- Sthanika
- Shukla Yajurvedi Smartha Brahmins
- Sama Vedi Smartha Brahmins
- Havyaka
- Vishwabrahmins
Kannada Srivaishnava Iyengar Brahmins
- Hebbar Iyengars
- Hemmige Iyengars
- Mandyam Iyengars
- Mysore Iyengars
Kannada Madhva Brahmins
- Madhwa Brahmins
- Shivalli Madhwa Brahmins
- Shukla Yajurvedi Madhva Brahmins
- Deshastha Brahmin Deshastha Brahmins
Common Surnames of Karnataka, Kannada Brahmins:
Rao,-this surname  is used both in Andhra and Karnataka and at times are also used by other communities in Andhra, especially by those belonging to Khamma Community.
Readers may clarify.
Aithal,Bhat,Adiga Deshpande( of these the term Adiga denotes those Brahmins who specialize in Cooking)
Somayaji( got this name because they were/are specialists in performing the Soma Yaga),Sharma and Shastri.
Hebbar, Iyer, Iyengar, Karanth,Bendre.
Source.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kannada_Brahmins
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Sir i have a query,are Iyengars actually Brahmins? i have heard that Ramanujacharya converted a lot of non brahmins to brahmins. If that’s true that would mean the current Iyengars were not Brahmins in the past and became Brahmins only after Ramanuja.
Sri Ramanuja did indeed take Abrahmanas after giving Dwadasanama .However the term Brahmins apply acordinding to Smriti those who realised Brahman and those who practice the six duties ordained to them. Brahmin is decided by disposition and character and not by birth. For details please read my article Who is A Brahmin and duties of Brahmins.Regards.
Thanks for the reply. I have also heard that only Thenkalai community had allowed non brahmins in their fold and Vadagalai community were strict on caste and did not allow non brahmins to get converted to their fold. Is that true?
i would like to get in touch with you on few more things , if its okay can I know your email id?
If the current Iyengars were once upon a time non brahmins, how is it possible that they have Brahmin gotras?
Jainism is not spreaded because of such reasons Jainism has it’s own history Jainism is very difficult to follow that’s why jainism is in minority and we can find that Jainism and Hinduism is interconnected
Hi My name is Raghavendra . I am smartha Bhramin kuthsasa gothra. I have 2 sons elder son is Siddharth and Younger one is Dhrupadh. I need to add surname can you please assist me.
It is enough if you add Sharma to their names.For Vaidika occasions Abhivadan Mantra is enough.
A true brahmana may worship Bhagawan Shiva-Parvati Devi or Bhagawan Vishnu-Mahalaxmi Devi personally (because he has to, as according to their mighty god /community god/house god system) but that does not mean he hate other gods. A brahmana is a true upper hand devotee of a GOD as he usually grows up in the viscinity of holy/spiritual environment compared to other Hindu communities. A brahamin’s true mission nowadays is to unite Hindus under the Hindu Religion which is reeling under the threat of demolition by virtue of infighting viruses injected by other majority crooked religions who’s aim is to have women-wold-wealth-water from the entire world leading to war & voilence!
I would like to know about the last name Hosur , smartha brahmins.Are they telugu speaking or kannada speaking
Hosuru has been used to indicate the place where one hails from and both Telugus and Kannadigas use this name..