In Malayalam, the word Muthuvan means those carrying something on their backs. It is said that they carried their children and belongings on their backs during their migration to the Western Ghats. Hence, they were called Muthuvan. The Muthuvans are found in the Idukki districts and the adjacent Western Ghats of Palakkad and Thrissur. They speak a patois form of Tamil, and they also speak to each other either in Malayalam or Tamil. The Muthuvan have six matrilineal clans (Koottams), viz. Melae koottam, Kana koottam, Thushani koottam, Kanya koottam, Elli koottam, and Puthani koottam, in hierarchical order. Each kottam is again divided into six lineages. These divisions are usually used to set up marriages, keep track of social status, and show descent and ancestry.
The Muthuvan are mainly a landowning community. The government has allotted agricultural land to them in some areas, but not on an ownership basis. Traditionally, the Muthuvans are nomadic agriculturalists, hunters, and trappers. Their primary crops include coffee, ginger, sugarcane, and rice. Religious fundamentalism characterises Muthuvan society. Present-day Muthuvans identify as Hindus; at least, that is what they say.