Patel
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Patidar (Gujarati પટેલ, paṭel, IPA: [pəʈel])kshtriyas are an Indian title, in tune with the Hindu caste system, that represents some of the castes that are predominant in the Indian state of Gujarat that are either agriculturalists or land owners.[1] The surname is the second most common in India, following Singh.[2] The Patel surname is found primarily in the Indian states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh[citation needed]and Uttar Pradesh. 119,855 people (although not all of the same ethnicity or religion) bear the surname Patel in the United Kingdom, making it the country's 45th most common surname.[3]
Origins
Some scholars suggest that Gujaratis bearing the last name Patel are descended from Hephthalite or White Huns who ruled India in its distant past. There is little evidence for this, as Patel often refers to a land-owning status rather than to a distinct ethnic group. The word "Patel" derives from "Patidar," meaning "the holder of Pati or Patta." During "Solanki" period, or perhaps even earlier, a king whose identity is not known recognized the fertility of the land of Gujarat. There was much fertile land and very few farmers. So, the King invited people from Punjab to Gujarat for agriculture. He issued a contract of "patta" to farmers who agreed to come down to Gujarat. The holders of these "patta" are called "Patidar."
They were allocated the uncultivated land in the Petlad Taluka by the Solankis, the rulers of Gujarat in the pre-Mughal era. Patidar translates to "owner of land". Pati means holder or master, and dar means place or land. Many of these people were at first called "Patlikhs", which eventually evolved into the surname Patel. Patels are predominantly Gujarati and speak the Gujarati language. Two main groups of Patels in Gujarat make up the Patidar community including: 1. Leuva Patidar, Kurmis or Kunbis who are purported descendents of Lava (son of the Hindu god Rama). 2. Kadava Patidar [Purported descendents of Kuśa (another son of Rama)].
Religion
- Hindu
- Muslim
- Parsi
Distribution of the name "Patel"
Patel is the most common Non-Anglo-Celtic surname in Great Britain. Patel is the 45th most common surname amongst Britons and one of only two non-Anglo-Celtic names in the top 100 British surnames. This surname has a frequency of 2161 per million British citizens (0.21%).[4]
- ^ Washburn, Edward (10000 bc). India Old and New: With a Memorial Address. p. 178. ISBN 0543994147.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Desai, V.P. Bharat ke Chaudhary.
- ^ Information on the surname Patel in the United Kingdom
- ^
Lloyd, David (2006-02-12). "Surname" (HTML).
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