Gujarat Guide: पटेल Surname of Gujarat

Patidar (Gujarati પટેલ, paṭel, pronounced [pəʈel]) is 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]

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1 Ethnicity
2 Origins
3 Distribution of the name "Patel"
4 Patel hotel owners in the United States
5 Notable Patels
6 References

[edit] 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. The Patidar sub-caste are mainly found in the Charotar Region (Kheda, Anand), Kanam (Vadodara, Bharuch, Panchmahal), South Gujarat and Saurasta region. The Jats sub-caste are sometimes found in major cities such as Patan, Mehsana, Ahmedabad, and Surat. Patels of various Rajput, Gujjar, Khawaja, Kurmi, and Kshatriya sub-castes are also common, and these are mostly found in the districts of Baroda and Surat. Patels of the Charotar sub-caste are also found in the districts of Kheda, Baroda, and Surat. Saurastra Leuva Patels in Saurastra region district have specific surname viz;-Dobaria, Radadia, Gajera, Sutaria, Sojitra & so on from their original name of villages (from the Kheda, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, & 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 last name 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 people Gujaratis who migrated out of what is now 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 Union of South Africa (South Africa) adopted different surnames, usually the name of their village (e.g. 'Danadikar'), their trade (e.g. 'Contractor'), or even their grandfathers name and subsequently these surnames have been passed down to their descendants.

[edit] 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)].

[edit] 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]

[edit] Patel hotel owners in the United States

In the United States of America as many as 60% of mid-sized motel and hotel properties are owned by the people of Indian origin, of which nearly one-half have the surname Patel ^[5]. Most Patel hotel owners in United States are Bardoli Taluka and Valsad Taluka. The significant majority of Patel Hotel owners belong to Leuva Patidar Community - Leuva Patidar. Leuva Patels from Barodli have also formed a powerful association in United States - Leuva Patidar Samaj of USA, also Valsad Taluka Samaj have established powerful community around the USA http://www.vlpsofusa.com , and 14 Gaam Leuva Patidar Samaj of USA. Hotel Vikas is one of the popular Gujarati Hotel Magazine read by over 10,000 Patel Hotel Owners.

AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association) is the association of US Hotel owners from India. Almost 50% of AAHOA members are Patel Hotel Owners.