Castes and Tribes of Southern India/Kōya
Kōya.— The land and boat-owning class of Muhammadans in the Laccadive islands. The name is said to be a corrupt form of Khōja, meaning a man of distinction, Māppillas use Kōya as a suffix to their names, e.g. Hassan Kōya, Mahomed Kōya (see Māppilla).