Patel is an Indian surname, predominantly in the state of Gujarat, India, representing a community of agriculturalists and merchants. The surname was a status name referring to village headsmen during medieval ages, and was later adopted by various communities of land owners. including the Patidars, Kolis, some Parsis and Muslims. Today, there are currently two major branches of people bearing the surname: Leuva and Kadva. The branches are distinguished mainly by geographic location and varying cultural practices. There are roughly 500,000 Patels outside India, including 150,000 in Britain and 150,000 in the US. Nearly 1 in 10 people of Indian origin in the US is a Patel.
Power of Patel
by smokey_eyes July 29, 2019
Patel: Britain's richest family
Is your surname Patel? Congratulations - you are officially more likely to be a multi-millionaire than anyone else in the country. And if you aren't yet wealthy, you're likely to become so. So what is it about this lot that makes them so much more successful than the rest of us?
For many, the name Patel is synonymous with the corner shop, that emergency port of call that has saved many a person's bacon when the supermarket is shut. But forget Patel the shopkeeper, and step forward Patel the self-made millionaire. For if your surname is Patel, you are seven times more likely to be a multi-millionaire than if your name is Smith.
Dr Philip Beresford, who compiles the annual Rich List, has 37 Patels and 50 Smiths on his database of millionaires worth over £5m. However, there are only around 36,000 Patels compared to 360,000 Smiths on the electoral register.
As well as the 37 multi-millionaires, Dr Beresford says there are also around 500 Patel millionaires in Britain. Not that it came as any surprise to him. "In fact, I think there should be more. It's just my inability to find them and put a value on them," he says.
What does he put their success down to? "Hard work, strong family solidarity, extraordinary determination, ambition to do well that goes from one generation to the other, and belief in education."
According to CB Patel, editor and publisher of the weekly newspaper the Gujarat Samachar/Asian Voice, there are, in fact, around 207,000 Patels in Britain.
Their original homeland is the north-west Indian state of Gujarat, where they settled after migrating from Punjab in 1139AD. Towards the end of the 17th century they acquired land rights and were given the title Patel (meaning landowner). By the mid-19th century further migration had taken them to other parts of India, Fiji, South Africa, the Caribbean, Britain and several of its colonies. Thousands more Patels arrived in Britain in the Seventies from Uganda when Idi Amin ejected all Asians.
The name Patel is now the 24th most common in Britain. The community even produces its own telephone directory.
Is your surname Patel? Congratulations - you are officially more likely to be a multi-millionaire than anyone else in the country. And if you aren't yet wealthy, you're likely to become so. So what is it about this lot that makes them so much more successful than the rest of us?
For many, the name Patel is synonymous with the corner shop, that emergency port of call that has saved many a person's bacon when the supermarket is shut. But forget Patel the shopkeeper, and step forward Patel the self-made millionaire. For if your surname is Patel, you are seven times more likely to be a multi-millionaire than if your name is Smith.
Dr Philip Beresford, who compiles the annual Rich List, has 37 Patels and 50 Smiths on his database of millionaires worth over £5m. However, there are only around 36,000 Patels compared to 360,000 Smiths on the electoral register.
As well as the 37 multi-millionaires, Dr Beresford says there are also around 500 Patel millionaires in Britain. Not that it came as any surprise to him. "In fact, I think there should be more. It's just my inability to find them and put a value on them," he says.
What does he put their success down to? "Hard work, strong family solidarity, extraordinary determination, ambition to do well that goes from one generation to the other, and belief in education."
According to CB Patel, editor and publisher of the weekly newspaper the Gujarat Samachar/Asian Voice, there are, in fact, around 207,000 Patels in Britain.
Their original homeland is the north-west Indian state of Gujarat, where they settled after migrating from Punjab in 1139AD. Towards the end of the 17th century they acquired land rights and were given the title Patel (meaning landowner). By the mid-19th century further migration had taken them to other parts of India, Fiji, South Africa, the Caribbean, Britain and several of its colonies. Thousands more Patels arrived in Britain in the Seventies from Uganda when Idi Amin ejected all Asians.
The name Patel is now the 24th most common in Britain. The community even produces its own telephone directory.
by ladyella May 28, 2008
by James Werdsbond July 16, 2010
An Indian last name if you find someone with the last name Patel I repeat don’t ask if they are related to another Patel because they are most likely not and they will avoid you for all of eternity
by Goodie with a hoodie July 7, 2020
- A common Indian last name, like Smith or Jones
- Theres a 95% chance the Patel you know is rich, if he isn't he owns a shop or a subway - Indians are the wealthiest group of people in America, they have a median income $20,000 higher than the median white income
- Almost always ridiculously smart
- Might own a motel
- Theres a 95% chance the Patel you know is rich, if he isn't he owns a shop or a subway - Indians are the wealthiest group of people in America, they have a median income $20,000 higher than the median white income
- Almost always ridiculously smart
- Might own a motel
by NYCMAN October 22, 2009
The most common last name derived from Indian heritage.
It's like Smith to America and Patel to India.
THEY ARE EVERYWHERE
It's like Smith to America and Patel to India.
THEY ARE EVERYWHERE
Indian person 1: I really wish I was a Patel
Indian person 2: You are, actually. Everyone here is somehow a Patel LOL
Indian person 1: NOOOOOOOO
Indian person 2: You are, actually. Everyone here is somehow a Patel LOL
Indian person 1: NOOOOOOOO
by katieschickennuggets May 26, 2017
Term in the car bussiness describing all people from the middle east. Also least favorite type of people to work with due to the fact that you cant make any commision on them. No matter what the price is, its to high
by Honda14 September 27, 2009