Kannur is called Cannanore because British colonial rulers anglicised the original Malayalam name “Kannur” (or “Kannanur”) into “Cannanore” during their rule over the Malabar Coast from the 18th century onward. Earlier, the Portuguese had called it Cananor and the Arabs called it Kannanur. After Indian independence, the city officially reverted to its native name — Kannur.
Introduction: A Name With a Rich Past
If you’ve ever flipped through old British colonial maps of India, you might have spotted a coastal city on the Malabar Coast labelled “Cannanore.” Today, that same city proudly carries its original name — Kannur. But for centuries, this port city in northern Kerala was known to the wider world by its Anglicised colonial identity.
The question “Why is Kannur called Cannanore?” opens up a rich tapestry of history — one woven together by ancient kingdoms, spice traders from Arabia and Persia, Portuguese explorers, Dutch merchants, and British colonisers. Each left their mark on the city’s name, just as they left their mark on its culture, architecture, and trade.
In this article, we’ll trace the complete journey of this name — from its ancient Malayalam roots to its colonial reinvention as “Cannanore” and its eventual return as “Kannur.”
What Does “Kannur” Actually Mean?
Before we understand why outsiders called it Cannanore, we need to understand what the locals always called it — and what it means.
The name Kannur is a Malayalam word, and historians offer three main theories about its origin:
Theory 1: “Kannan” + “Ur” — The Land of Lord Krishna
The most widely circulated and romantically appealing theory is that Kannur is a compound of two Malayalam words: Kannan (a popular name for Lord Krishna) and Ur (meaning “place” or “town”). Under this interpretation, Kannur translates as “The Place of Lord Krishna.”
Supporting this theory is the presence of the Katalayi Sreekrishna Temple — one of the most important shrines in the region. Historians note that the deity was originally installed at a shrine near Katalayi Kotta in the southeastern part of present-day Kannur town, lending credibility to the idea that the city took its name from this sacred association.
Theory 2: “Kannu” + “Ur” — The Place of the Eye
A second theory proposes that Kannur derives from kannu (eye in Malayalam) + ur (place), possibly referring to a geographic or mythological landmark described as an “eye.” Some historians believe this could point to a prominent coastal feature that ancient mariners used as a navigational reference point along the Malabar Coast.
Theory 3: Derived from “Kanathur” — An Ancient Village
The third and arguably the most straightforward etymological theory is that Kannur is a shortened, evolved form of Kanathur — an ancient village that once existed in the region. Remarkably, this ancient name hasn’t disappeared entirely; it survives to this day as the name of one of the wards within Kannur Municipality. The official Government of Kerala District Profile acknowledges this theory as one of the most plausible derivations.
“Kannur district derived its name from the location of its headquarters at Kannur town. The old name ‘Cannanore’ is the anglicised form of the Malayalam word Kannur. According to one opinion, ‘Kannur’ is a derivation from Kanathur, an ancient village, the name of which survives even today in one of the wards of Kannur Municipality.” — Government of Kerala, District Profile
How Kannur Became “Cannanore” — The Colonial Story
The transformation from Kannur to Cannanore didn’t happen overnight. It was a gradual phonetic shift that passed through at least three colonial and trading powers over several centuries.
The Arabic Connection: “Kannanur”
Long before European colonisers arrived, Kannur was already a thriving international port. Arab traders — who had established deep ties with the Malabar Coast since at least the 8th century — knew the city as Kannanur. Trade routes between Kannur and Persia and Arabia flourished in the 12th and 13th centuries CE. Arab geographers and merchants recorded the city in their trade documents, and the name they used was simply their phonetic rendering of the local Malayalam name.
One of the most tangible pieces of evidence of this Arabian connection is the Madayi Mosque in Kannur, whose Arabic copper-slab inscription records its foundation year as 1124 CE — making it one of the oldest mosques in the Indian subcontinent.
The Portuguese Transformation: “Cananor”
When Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama arrived on the Malabar Coast in 1498, he opened a new chapter in Kannur’s history. The Portuguese were captivated by the strategic and commercial value of the city. In 1505, under Dom Francisco de Almeida — the first Portuguese Viceroy of India — the Portuguese built the famous St. Angelo’s Fort north of Kannur.
In their maps, documents, and official correspondence, the Portuguese rendered the city’s name as Cananor — a direct phonetic attempt to approximate the sounds of the Malayalam or Arabic name in their own tongue. “Cananor” is considered the earliest European name for the city.
The British Anglicisation: “Cannanore”
After the Dutch captured St. Angelo’s Fort in 1663, and the British finally took control in 1790, Kannur entered its most transformative colonial period. The British East India Company made Kannur their primary military headquarters on India’s west coast — a status it held from 1709 to 1887.
As part of the Malabar District under the Madras Presidency, British administrators needed to record the city in official colonial documents in English. They took the existing phonetic forms — Kannanur, Cananor — and rendered them in a spelling more comfortable to English ears and tongues: Cannanore.
This was not unique to Kannur. Across colonial India, British administrators routinely anglicised local names. Kozhikode became Calicut, Thiruvananthapuram became Trivandrum, Kochi became Cochin, and Kannur became Cannanore. The Anglicised names were used in all official records, maps, shipping registers, military dispatches, and administrative documents throughout the colonial period.
| Era / Power | Name Used | Time Period | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indigenous / Local | Kannur / Kanathur | Ancient – present | Native Malayalam name used by locals |
| Arab Traders | Kannanur | 8th – 16th century | Spice trade, Malabar Coast routes |
| Portuguese | Cananor | 1498 – 1663 | Fort construction, colonial trade |
| Dutch | Cannanore | 1663 – 1790 | Brief Dutch rule after capturing the fort |
| British | Cannanore | 1790 – 1947 | Official British colonial name, Malabar District |
| Independent India | Kannur | 1947 – present | Official name post-independence |
To fully appreciate why the name Cannanore stuck for so long, it helps to understand Kannur’s remarkable history:
1st–5th Century CE
Kannur (then known as Naura) is mentioned in the Greek maritime text Periplus of the Erythraean Sea as an important port north of Muziris. The region is the seat of the powerful Ezhimala Kingdom.
1075 CE
The Ramanthali inscription near Kannur records one of the oldest Old Malayalam inscriptions, referencing King Kunda Alupa of the Alupa dynasty of Mangalore.
1124 CE
Foundation of the Madayi Mosque, recorded on an Arabic copper slab — evidence of Kannur’s deep ties with Arab traders and Islam.
Mid-1290s
Marco Polo visits the area and records it in his famous travel account Il Milione.
1498
Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama arrives on the Malabar Coast, beginning European interest in Kannur. The city begins to appear on European maps as Cananor.
1505
The Portuguese build St. Angelo’s Fort (also known as Fort St. Angelo or Kannur Fort) — a landmark that still stands today and is under the Archaeological Survey of India.
1663
The Dutch capture St. Angelo’s Fort from the Portuguese. Kannur continues under its phonetically adapted names in European documents.
1790
The British East India Company captures the fort. Kannur becomes a key British military station on the Malabar Coast and is officially recorded as Cannanore in colonial documents.
1709–1887
Cannanore serves as the British military headquarters on India’s west coast. It becomes part of the Malabar District under the Madras Presidency.
1947
India gains independence. The city gradually reverts to its native name Kannur in official usage.
1957
Kannur District is officially established on 1st January 1957, following the reorganisation of states.
Is “Cannanore” Still Used Today?
Even decades after independence, the name Cannanore hasn’t completely vanished. It lingers in several interesting places:
The Railway Station: The city’s main railway station is still informally called “Cannanore” and “Kannur” interchangeably by locals, travellers, and even railway staff — a charming testament to the colonial name’s staying power.
Cannanore Home Furnishings: The city’s textile industry — famous for handloom products — has a GI-tagged (Geographical Indication) product line called Cannanore Home Furnishings, which includes curtains, linens, upholstery fabrics, and decorative accessories. The use of the colonial name here is a deliberate branding choice connecting the product to the city’s heritage.
Tourism and Heritage: Many tourism websites and heritage guides still use “Cannanore” alongside “Kannur” to help international travellers find information — especially those searching with the older colonial-era name.
Literary and Historical References: Historians, colonial-era texts, and literary works continue to use Cannanore when referring to events before Indian independence. This is historically accurate and appropriate.
Why Renaming Matters: Kannur’s Identity Reclaimed
The renaming of Cannanore back to Kannur is part of a broader post-independence movement in India to reclaim place names from their colonial distortions and restore them to their original indigenous form. Cities like Bombay → Mumbai, Madras → Chennai, Calcutta → Kolkata, and Cochin → Kochi all underwent similar transitions.
For Kannur, the return to its native name is also a return to its cultural and historical identity — a city that was a powerful trading port long before any European sailor spotted its coastline. It was the capital of the Kolathunadu Kingdom, home to one of the oldest Muslim mosques in the subcontinent, a city visited by Marco Polo, and the birthplace of the sacred ritual art form Theyyam.
Calling it Kannur is not just linguistic correction — it is an act of historical justice, restoring a name that was always there, always spoken by its people, always carved into the stones of its temples and mosques.
Today, Kannur is home to Asia’s largest naval academy (INS Zamorin at Ezhimala), Asia’s longest drive-in beach (Muzhappilangad), and one of India’s most culturally vibrant living traditions — Theyyam. The name “Cannanore” belongs to history; “Kannur” belongs to the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Kannur called Cannanore?
Kannur was called Cannanore because British colonial rulers anglicised the original Malayalam name “Kannur” (or “Kannanur”) into “Cannanore” during their administration of the Malabar Coast. The Portuguese had earlier called it Cananor. Both names are phonetic adaptations of the same native Malayalam word.
What is the meaning of the name Kannur?
The name Kannur has three proposed origins: (1) Kannan + Ur — “The Place of Lord Krishna,” linked to the Katalayi Sreekrishna Temple; (2) Kannu + Ur — “The Place of the Eye,” possibly a geographic reference; and (3) a derivation from Kanathur, an ancient village whose name survives in a ward of today’s Kannur Municipality.
Is Cannanore and Kannur the same place?
Yes, absolutely. Cannanore and Kannur are the same city in northern Kerala, India. Cannanore is the old British colonial name for Kannur. The city officially uses “Kannur” since India’s independence in 1947.
What did the Portuguese call Kannur?
The Portuguese called Kannur Cananor. They arrived in 1498 with Vasco da Gama and built the famous St. Angelo’s Fort in 1505 under Dom Francisco de Almeida, the first Portuguese Viceroy of India.
What did the Arabs call Kannur?
Arab traders who dominated the Malabar spice trade called Kannur Kannanur. This name appears in Arabic trade records from the 12th and 13th centuries. The Madayi Mosque in Kannur, one of the oldest in India, has an Arabic inscription dated 1124 CE.
When was Kannur renamed from Cannanore?
The city gradually reverted to its native name Kannur after Indian independence in 1947. The formal establishment of Kannur District came on 1 January 1957. The name “Cannanore” still appears informally — most notably at the main railway station.
What is Kannur known for today?
Kannur today is known as the “Land of Looms and Lores” — famous for its handloom textiles (GI-tagged Cannanore Home Furnishings), the sacred ritual art of Theyyam, St. Angelo’s Fort, Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach (Asia’s longest), the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala (Asia’s largest), and its rich spice trade history.