Patel

For the freedom fighter, see Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Patel (Gujarati પટેલ, paṭel) is a surname found mainly in northern India (Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh and other north Indian regions).

The name Patel is derived from the term Patlikh, which means owner/tenant of royal land. Although they live throughout the world, Patels are traditionally found in the Indian state of Gujarat. Patels are divided into many branches; the two largest branches of Patels (also called Patidar) are Leuva and Kadwa. They belong to the Indo-Aryan people (meaning that they speak an Indo-Aryan language and/or are of Indo-Aryan descent). Some are of Punjabi ancestry and are Kanbi Kshatriyas, they sometimes have traditional Punjabi names as their middle names. However there are Jat minorities. Because Patel is a title, and not an ethnicity, it is difficult to assign to one particular group of people.

In India, the Patels were originally agriculturalists (although now they have now successfully entered other fields). In the United States, they are particularly associated with the lodging industry, owning numerous hotel and motel businesses. (The Asian American Hotel Owner's Association (AAHOA) ninety percent of nearly 9,000 members are Patels. The AAHOA estimates that they collectively own 18,000 hospitality properties worth some $38 billion in all.) In addition, many Patels are employed as doctors, engineers, and pharmacists. In the United Kingdom, many Patels own grocery supermarkets, pharmacies, news stalls, and other small businesses!

As a surname, Patel is perhaps the most popular and easily identified Indian last name, other than Singh. Other than the North, Patels can notably be found in Maharashtra as well. While the traditional occupation of agriculture remains, the surname has been modified to "Patil" which is more common in the Portuguese regions of India.

Ethnicity

The topic of the ethnic background of people who have the surname Patel is a complex one. The name refers to a widespread community and does not encapsulate a specific ancestry. The farmer and merchant caste, termed Vaishya, make up the majority of the Patel community. However, those with Persian ancestry, called Parsis, and Indo-Iranian "Kshatriyas" often times have the Patel surname as well.

Note: Most of the Patels of Punjabi Ancestry are Kurmi, however a small population of Patels are Jats and are usually scattered in eastern Gujarat(Kheda, Vadodara, Sabarkantha, etc.) and in the Kutch District in the West. They sometimes keep their historical Punjabi surnames as their current middle names. The Rajputs live mostly in and around the former Princely State of Baroda.

Religion

The Patel surname is not restricted to one religious group, although an overwhelming majority of them are Hindu. There are also some Muslim, Buddhist, Jain, Zoroastrian and Christian Patels.

A few individuals with the surname Patel have the Persian Lordship of Khwajah.

Famous Personalities

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Jemish Patel

Karsanbhai Patel

Bina Patel

External links

• Jemish Patel TV Presenter (Host/Anchor)
• Review of a book About Patels in the US
• Yellow pages search For newsagents in London called Patel. In addition to the 60 or so listed there are many run by Patels but trading under other names