The origin of the name Satavahana has many interesting legends, one of this is from Kathasaritsagara which tells the story of a Yaksha who used to take the form of a lion and carry about the son of a sage on its back. From this that boy came to be know as Satavahana.
Satavahanas were Brahmanas by caste, this is evident from the Nashik cave inscription of King Pulumavi Vasitiputra, his father Gautamiputra is described as 'eka-bamhana' (unique Brahmana) and 'Khatiyadapa-mana-damana' (the subduer of arrogance & pride of Kshatriyas).
Though they were Aryas and belonged to the Brahmana caste they married Naga and even Saka women without inhibition and adhered strongly to the Vedic religion.
Ashoka's proclamation to ban slaughter/sacrifice of animals seems to have interfered in the Vedic sacrifices of Brahmanas. After Ashoka's death, the Brahmana founders of the new dynasties like Shungas and Satavahanas performed various Vedic sacifices soon after coming to power.
The third and fourth generation Satavahanas performed not only two Ashvamedhas & one Rajasuya sacrifices but also no less than fifteen other Vedic sacrifices and thereby brought back prestige to the Vedic religion.
Satavahanas were called 'Andhras' in the Puranas, but it's very likely that they had originated in present day Maharashtra as majority of their early inscriptions and coins were found in that region. Even inscription of Kharavela mentions them to be located towards west.
Jain literature and Greek references mentions Pratishthana (modern Paithan) as the early capital of the Satavahanas.
In later period when the empire extended eastwards till the Krishna-Godavari deltas, their capital also shifted & hence started to be called Andhras.
Source:
1) The History and Inscriptions of The Satavahanas and The Western Kshatrapas by V.V. Mirashi.
2)Early History Of Andhra Country.
