Gotta
Gotta,(nt.) [Vedic gotra,to go] ancestry,lineage.There is no word in English for gotta.It includes all those descended,or supposed to be descended,from a common ancestor.A gotta name is always distinguished from the personal name,the name drawn from place of origin or residence,or from occupation,and lastly from the nick-name.It probably means agnate rather than cognate.About a score of gotta names are known.They are all assigned to the Buddha’s time.See also Rh.D.Dialogues I.27,195 sq.--jāti gotta lakkhaṇa Sn.1004; gotta salakkhaṇa Sn.1018; Ādiccā nāma gottena,Sākiyā nāma jātiyā Sn.423; jāti gotta kula J.II,3; jātiyā gottena bhogena sadisa “equal in rank,lineage & wealth” DhA.II,218.-- evaṁ-gotta (adj.) belonging to such & such an ancestry M.I,429; II,20,33; kathaṁ° of what lineage,or:what is your family name? D.I,92; nānā° (pl.) of various families Pv.II,916.-- With nāma (name & lineage,or nomen et cognomen):nāmagottaṁ Vin.I,93; II,239; D.I,92 (expl.at DA.I,257:paññatti-vasena nāmaṁ paveṇi-vasena gottaṁ:the name for recognition,the surname for lineage); Sn.648; Vv 8445 (with nāma & nāmadheyya; expl.at VvA.348‹-› 349:nāmadheyya,as Tisso,Phusso,etc.; gotta,as Bhaggavo Bhāradvājo,etc.).-- gottena by the ancestral name:Vin.I,93; D.II,154; Sn.1019; Dh.393; gottato same J.I,56.Examples:Ambaṭṭha Kaṇhāyana-gottena D.I,92; Vipassī Koṇḍañño g°; Kakusandho Kassapo g°; Bhagavā Gotamo g° D.II,3; Nāgito Kassapo g° DA.I,310; Vasudevo Kaṇho g° PvA.94.
--thaddha conceited as regards descent (+jāti° & dhana°) Sn.104; --pañha question after one’s family name Sn.456; --paṭisārin (adj.) relying on lineage D.I,99 (cp.Dialogues I.122); A.V,327 sq.; --bandhava connected by family ties (ñāti°+) Nd2 455; --rakkhita protected by a (good) name Sn.315; VvA.72; --vāda talk over lineage,boasting as regards descent D.I,99.(Page 255)