Patel

Patel (Template:Lang-gu, paṭel, pronounced [pəʈel]) is a surname of Indian origin, originally meaning "headman" or "village chief". Patels are found in large numbers in Gujarat (see Gujarati people) Patels are basically Kurmis or Kunbis and are found in various geographical locations. The Kunbi (Marathi: कुणबी, Gujarati: કુનબી, alternately Kanbi) are an Indian subcaste. They are found largely in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, and are historically associated with agriculture; another branch is found in Goa. The group is often associated with the Kurmi caste, though scholars differ as to whether the terms are synonymous.[1][2] In 2006, the Indian government announced that Kurmi was considered synonymous with the Kunbi and Yellam castes in Maharashtra.

The term Kunbi was known to be applied to the cultivating class of Hindu Shudra in Central India. The word Kunbi is believed to be derived from the Marathi word kunbawa, or Sanskrit kur, "agricultural tillage".[4] Alternate etymologies include derivation from kutumba (family), or from the Dravidian kul, "husbandman" or "labourer". Popular etymologies include derivation from kun (root) or kan (grain) combined with bi (seed).[5]

Other spellings and variants include: Kulambi (Deccan), Kulwadi (South Konkan), Kanbi (Gujarat), Kulbi (Belgaum), Reddies (Andhra Pradesh), kurmi(Bihar,Uttar Pradesh,Madhya Pradesh,Jharkhand).

Distribution

The name is found primarily in the Indian states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka, as well as metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Surat, and Delhi. Within the United Kingdom, it is the twenty-fourth most common surname nationally, and the third most common in the Greater London region. In the US, the surname "Patel" ranks 174 among the top 500 list of most common last names. Though Patel Surname is commonly used by Hindu Kunbis, Kurmis, Kolis , Parsis and Muslims also carry the surname "Patel" (see also Muslim Patel).

Gujarat

Further, Patels are classified based on the geographical regions. 1. Kachchi Patel: Kachchi patels are predominantly Kadava patel worshipping Shri Umiya Mata as their clan deity. 2. Kathiawadi Patel: Kathiawadi/Saurashtra Patels are Kadava Patel. Leuva Patel are concentrated mainly in Anand district, Charotar and Kheda district. Kadava patels are mainly in North Gujarat, Jamnagar and rest of the Rajkot and Junagadh. Leuva Patel primarily worships Shri Khodiyar Mata, Mahisasur Mardini or Badhrakali as their clan deity.

Leva Patels are said to be descendants of the surya vansh (sun dynasty) from the lineage of "luv." Kadva Patels are also descendants of the sun dynasty however they descend from the lineage of "kush." Leva and kadva Patels were originally kshatriya' however, over history they have been known for their agriculture and business. Most leva Patels are followers of the BAPS Swaminarayan movement or the Pushti Margi VaishnavA sect. Sardar Patel of Karamsad, Gujarat was a Charotary Leva Patel.

A subcast of Gujarati patels are Vastarpara,sheliya,meruliya,magtarpara,nadoda,narola.. etc., and they live in Amreli district and come from Ahmedabad district.

The Leva Patels and Kadva Patels are known for their entrepreneurial skills in business and agriculture having a strong hold in Gujarat and have made a name for themselves around the world. There are religious and ideological differences between various groups of Patels. They have their own social samaj (gatherings) and mandirs at various locations. The Patel community followed an age-old tradition of marrying within their ‘GOL' or circle, but with changes in economic status, global influence, literacy and education, changes are now taking place and Patels are increasingly marrying outside the Gols.

Other Gujaratis who migrated out of what is now the state of Gujarat during the British Raj to British East Africa (Kenya and Uganda) sometimes adopted 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 'Patels' who migrated to British East Africa and the Union of South Africa (South Africa) adopted different surnames, usually the name of their village, their trade or even their grandfather's name. Subsequently, these surnames have been passed down to their descendants.

"Patel Motel" phenomenon

The "Patel motel" phenomenon, as it is popularly known, has made a major impact on the American hospitality industry.

Amongst Indian immigrants to US, the surname is the second most common last name, following Singh. "The trend started in the early 1940's, though the real growth took place in the 1960's and 1970's."

A sizable number of Indian immigrants to the United States came in the 1960s and 1970s, when the motel industry was booming. Many of them bought up undervalued and dilapidated properties and turned them into businesses. As many as 60% of mid-sized motels and hotel properties, all over the US, are owned by the people of Indian origin. Of this nearly one-third have the surname Patel - a popular one among Indian Gujaratis(those that came from Gujarat).)

"According to the Asian American Hotel Association (A.A.H.O.A), 50 percent of hotels and motels in the United States are owned by people of Indian Origin". A large immigrant population of Gujurati's came in the 1960s and 1970s. These Patels known as the founding fathers, worked hard and saved then invested in a lot of properties. Having a steady amount income and savings, they called over their distant relatives and friends from the villages of India. Upon their arrival, they would already have financial assistance from the founding fathers and start up their own businesses. Even though Patels are evenly spread throughout the country they still have held onto their vast network, which has definitely been a key to their entrepreneurship.

Notables

Further information: List of Patels

References

• Namesakes with surname Patel
• Phonosemantic analysis of surname Patel