The Barom Kagyü ('ba' rom bka' brgyud) originates with Barompa (aka Barom Repa) Darma Wangchuk ('ba' rom pa dar ma dbang phyug, 1127-1199/1200), a disciple of Gampopa (sgam po pa, 1079-1153) who early in his life studied with some of the famous Kadampa masters of the day, such as the Geshé Potowa (dge bshes po to ba) and Geshé Jayülwa (dge bshes bya yul ba). He was a lay siddha figure rather than a monk (though he was ordained as a novice at age 7 or 8) and thus was unusual amongst Gampopa's largely monastic disciples. It was a relatively modest tradition in extent, and largely passed out of existence perhaps around the fourteenth century, although a few pockets continue today in Kham, eastern Tibet.