The name is said to mean, 'One who speaks,' and to have been applied to those Thugs who escaped capital punishment by giving information against their confederates.

Goranda is said to be a corruption of Goyanda.

The Goyandas are both Hindus and Muhammadans.

The latter commonly call themselves Deccani Musalmans as a more respectable designation.

They are said to be a gipsy class of Muhammadans resembling the Kanjars.