The Knanaya Community traces its origin back to a Jewish-Christian immigrant community. They migrated from Southern Mesopotamia to the Malabar (present Kerala) Coast of Cranganore (Kondungallor) in AD 345 under the leadership of an enterprising merchant Thomas of Cana (Knai Thomman). This migration is considered as a turning point in the history of St Thomas Christians of Malabar. The original community consisted about 400 persons belonging to 72 families of seven clans.