There are three types of tongkonan which are classified according to their function in society. A tongkonan layuk ('grand tongkonan') or tongkonan pesio' aluk ('aluk maker') is the original ancestral home in which the aluk of a particular adat territory were established. The Grand Tongkonan is the seat of a kinship grouping that traces its descent from a single founding couple.
In the context of tongkonan society, there are three types of tongkonans based on their role in the community. A tongkonan layuk or tongkonan pesio' aluk is the ancestral home where the aluk of a particular region originated. The Grand Tongkonan represents the focal point of a kinship network that traces its lineage from a single founding family.