Patel

Patel (Gujarati પટેલ, paṭel, IPA: [pəʈel]) is an Indian title that represents some of the castes that are predominant in the Indian state of Gujarat that are either agriculturalists (farmers) or land owners. The surname is the second most common in India, following Singh. The Patel surname is found primarily in the Indian states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and Bihar. 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. Patil is the Marathi version of this same name.

=Ethnicity

While the surname is popular and denotes a particular landowning status, people of different castes occasionally share the surname. The Patels mainly belong to the various Patidar sub-castes. Two main groups of Patels in Gujarat make up the Patidar community including: 1. Leuva Patidar, or Kunbis/Kurmis who are purported descendents of Lava the Hi 2. Kadava Patidar ]. The Leuva Patidar sub-caste are mainly found in the Charotar Region (which is known also known as Charotar Leuva Patidars) (Kheda, Anand), Kanam (Vadodara, Bharuch, Panchmahal), South Gujarat and Saurasta region. The Jats low-caste are sometimes found in major cities such as Patan, Mehsana, Amdabad, Rajkot, and Surat. Patel low-castes are also common, and these are mostly found in the districts of Baroda and Surat. Saurastra Leuva Patels in the Saurastra region district have specific surnames; Babaria, Limbasiya, Kanani, Kunjadiya, Dobaria, Keraliya, Radadia, Gajera, Sutaria, Sojitra and so on from their original village names (from the Kheda, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, and Saurastra regions). In South Gujarat, nearly 90% of the members of the Koli and Kanbi Patidar sub-castes bear 'Patel' as their last name. The Patels outnumber all other Gujaratis in the United States, United Kingdom, and New Zealand. The surname 'Patel' is also used by Kolis in other regions of Gujarat. Besides Kolis and Kanbis, Dhodia Patidars of South Gujarat also use Patel as their last name. The surname can also occasionally be found amongst Parsis, Muslims, and Sidhra-Rudhra Brahmins. Patidars of Rajasthan (south and south-east rajasthan) and Madhya-Pradesh mainly use 'Patidar' itself as surname. The Patidars of these two states are also divided into two groups, Leuva and Kadava.

It should be noted that other Gujaratis who migrated out of what is now the state of Gujarat during the British Raj to British East Africa (Kenya and Uganda) would sometimes adopt the surname 'Patel' and this surname was then subsequently passed onto their descendants (who now mainly reside outside Kenya and Uganda). Also, during the British Raj, some of 'Patels' that migrated to British East Africa and the Union of South Africa (South Africa) adopted different surnames, usually the name of their village (e.g. 'Dandikar'), their trade (e.g. 'Contractor'), or even their grandfathers name and subsequently these surnames have been passed down to their descendants.

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 the "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 the people from what is now Punjab and 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.

Famous Patels

• Dev Patel
• Amisha Patel
• Karan Patel
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel