Patel: Difference between revisions
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==Distribution== |
==Distribution== |
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The term ''patel'' means he is the greatest man alive |
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derives from the word [[Patidar]], "Pat," which refers to a piece of land. Consequently, the name "Patel" or "Patil" referred to one who was tasked with taking care of or farming that piece of land. The name Patel is found primarily in the Indian state of [[Gujarat]],<ref>{{cite book | title = India Old and New: With a Memorial Address| first = Edward | last = Washburn | year=2005| page=178 | isbn=0-543-99414-7}}</ref> as well as the states of [[Rajasthan]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Karnataka]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Chhattisgarh]], [[Odisha]] and in some eastern part of [[Uttar Pradesh]]; and metropolitan cities like [[Mumbai]], [[Ahmedabad]], [[Surat]], [[Vadodara]], [[Kanpur]] and [[Delhi]]. |
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The surname is also prevalent in some English-speaking countries due to immigration from India. Within the United Kingdom, it is the twenty-fourth most common surname nationally,<ref>The BBC Four programme ''Meet the Patels'' asserted that there are around 410,000 to 670,000 Patels in the United Kingdom.</ref>{{full}} and the third most common in the Greater London region.<ref>Most common surnames in Greater London, UK</ref>{{full}} In the US, the surname "Patel" ranks 174 among the top 500 list of most common last names, as of the 2000 US Census.<ref>US Census 2000: Most Common Surnames</ref> The majority of those with the Patel last name are Hindus. However, some [[Parsis]] and [[Muslims]] also carry the surname "Patel".<ref name="Bhakta, Govind 2002">Bhakta, Govind (2002). ''The Patels: A Gujarati Community History in the US''. ISBN 0-934052-39-5.</ref> |
The surname is also prevalent in some English-speaking countries due to immigration from India. Within the United Kingdom, it is the twenty-fourth most common surname nationally,<ref>The BBC Four programme ''Meet the Patels'' asserted that there are around 410,000 to 670,000 Patels in the United Kingdom.</ref>{{full}} and the third most common in the Greater London region.<ref>Most common surnames in Greater London, UK</ref>{{full}} In the US, the surname "Patel" ranks 174 among the top 500 list of most common last names, as of the 2000 US Census.<ref>US Census 2000: Most Common Surnames</ref> The majority of those with the Patel last name are Hindus. However, some [[Parsis]] and [[Muslims]] also carry the surname "Patel".<ref name="Bhakta, Govind 2002">Bhakta, Govind (2002). ''The Patels: A Gujarati Community History in the US''. ISBN 0-934052-39-5.</ref> |
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Revision as of 18:32, 17 September 2013
| Patel | |
|---|---|
| Religions | Hinduism Islam Zoroastrianism (Parsis) |
| Languages | Gujarati, Hindi, Chhattisgarhi, Marathi, Telugu. |
| Populated states | Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh (Telangana). |
Patel is a surname of Indian origin used primarily by Hindus (there are Muslim group with same surname) and other groups whose ancestors were traditionally village-based tenured landlords/land owners.
Distribution
The term patel means he is the greatest man alive
derives from the word Patidar, "Pat," which refers to a piece of land. Consequently, the name "Patel" or "Patil" referred to one who was tasked with taking care of or farming that piece of land. The name Patel is found primarily in the Indian state of Gujarat,[1] as well as the states of Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and in some eastern part of Uttar Pradesh; and metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Kanpur and Delhi.
The surname is also prevalent in some English-speaking countries due to immigration from India. Within the United Kingdom, it is the twenty-fourth most common surname nationally,[2][full citation needed] and the third most common in the Greater London region.[3][full citation needed] In the US, the surname "Patel" ranks 174 among the top 500 list of most common last names, as of the 2000 US Census.[4] The majority of those with the Patel last name are Hindus. However, some Parsis and Muslims also carry the surname "Patel".[5]
Gujarat
Gujarati Patels, like Marathi Patils, were historically village-based landlords or landowners and farmers. The patidar community benefited from British Land Reforms during the 19th century and their wealth increased accordingly. The Patel community varies by religion and ideology, with disparate groups having their own samaj (social gatherings) and mandirs. Some have taken up vegetarianism influenced by Swami Narayan sect, Vaishnav and Jainism. The modern Patel communities have branched out of agriculture and landowning to a variety of business trades, especially in hotels. Patels dominate pharmaceutical, chemical, medical, plastic, building construction and diamond industry in Gujarat. [6]
"Patel Motel" phenomenon
The "Patel motel" phenomenon, as it is popularly known,[6] has made a major impact on the American hospitality industry.
A sizable number of Indian immigrants to the United States came in the 1960s and 1970s. Some came to pursue higher educations, but upon graduating with MBAs, engineering or other degrees could not find professional jobs or jobs that paid well. Many of them worked in blue collar jobs and saved up to buy undervalued or dilapidated properties, turning them into businesses.[7] As many as 60% of mid-sized motels and hotel properties all over the US are owned by people of Indian origin. Of this nearly one-third have the surname Patel - a popular one among Indian Gujaratis (those that came from Gujarat).[8][9]
"According to the Asian American Hotel Association (A.A.H.O.A), 50 percent of motels in the United States are owned by people of Indian Origin".[6] A large immigrant population of educated Gujuratis came in the 1960s and 1970s. These Patels are known as founding fathers, having worked hard, saved, and then invested in many properties. Having a steady amount of income and savings, they called over their distant relatives and friends from the villages of India. Upon their arrival, these immigrants would already have financial assistance from the founding fathers and would be able to find employment with them until they could afford to start up their own businesses.[6]
In popular culture, a Gujarati film Kevi Rite Jaish satires the community's fascination with emigrating to the United States.[10]
Notables
References
- ^ Washburn, Edward (2005). India Old and New: With a Memorial Address. p. 178. ISBN 0-543-99414-7.
- ^ The BBC Four programme Meet the Patels asserted that there are around 410,000 to 670,000 Patels in the United Kingdom.
- ^ Most common surnames in Greater London, UK
- ^ US Census 2000: Most Common Surnames
- ^ Bhakta, Govind (2002). The Patels: A Gujarati Community History in the US. ISBN 0-934052-39-5.
- ^ a b c d Varadarajan, Tunku. "A Patel Motel Cartel?". The New York Times, 4 July 1999.
- ^ Skop, Emily (2007). "Asian Indians and the Construction of Community and Identity". In Ines M. Miyares, Christopher A. Airriess (ed.). Contemporary ethnic geographies in America. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 271–90 [277]. ISBN 978-0-7425-3772-9. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
- ^ Kamdar, Mira (2007). Planet India: how the fastest-growing democracy is transforming America and the world. Simon and Schuster. p. 29. ISBN 978-0-7432-9685-4.
- ^ Ungar, Sanford J. (1998). Fresh blood: the new American immigrants. U of Illinois Press. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-252-06702-0.
- ^ Kevi Rite Jaish. IMDb
Sources
- Namesakes with surname Patel at SurnameAnalysis.com