84. Some Interesting Facts About Patels

Patel is a trade name and previous caste of landowners, farmers and village leaders. The 'Patel' of a village in the mid-1500-1900 state of Gujarat, would be a member of the village committee who would help represent the whole village's views to the local council and take the lead in resolving problems and implementing ideas. They would do this by working closely alongside the village pandit and other members of the 'Brahmin' Community mainly found in Gujarat, India but also across all parts of India and Pakistan. It is currently also used as a surname like Patidar, Bhakta or replaced by an ancestorial name. It is ranked to be the 174 most common name.

•  Patel surname is the second most common in India, following Singh.
•  119,855 people bear surname Patel in United Kingdom, making it the country’s 45th most common surname. (although not all are of same ethnicity or relegion).
•  The Jats sub caste is also sometimes found at Patan,Mehsana,Ahmedabad asnd Surat.
•  Patels of various Rajput,Gujjar,Khawaja,Kurmi and Kshatriya sub caste are most common,and are mainly found at districts of Baroda and Surat.
•  Patels of Charotar sub caste are also found at districts of Kheda,Baroda and Surat.
• Kadva Patels of Saurastra region also have specific surname like Dobaria,Radadia,Gajera,Sutaria and so on…….
• In South Gujarat, nearly 90 percent members of Koli and Kanbi Patidar sub caste have Patel as their surnames.
• Patels outnumber all other Gujaratis in USA, United Kingdom and New Zealand.
•  Patidars of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh commonly use “Patidar” itself as surname.
• Some Other Gujaratis who migrated(from Gujarat) to British East Africa (Kenya and Uganda),During British Raj had adopted the surname Patel and this surname was then passed to their descendants.
• Patel is most common family name among the Indians in USA.
• Immigration of Patidars began in late 19th and early 20th century, First to East Africa and then to rest of world.
• Patels own one third of mid –sized motels and hotels properties in USA.(60 percent of motel and hotel properties are own by India origin, out of this 60 percent Patels own one third motels and hotels).
• Most Patel hotel owners in USA are from Bardoli and Valsad Taluka.
• Majority of Patel hotel owners are Leuva Patidars.
• Leuva Patidars have also formed powerful community around USA .
• Patels of 14 Gaam , Have also found “14 Gaam Patidar Samaj Of USA”.
• “Hotel Vikas” is one of popular Gujarati Hotel magazine by over 10,000 Patel hotel Owners.
• “AAHOA” means Asian American Hotel Owners Association, It is association of USA Hotel owners from India.
• Almost 50 percent of members of AAHOA are Patel Hotel Owners.
• The Asian American Hotel Owners Association has more than 8,000 members, and 60 percent are named Patels.The members of this association owns about 37 percent of hotels and motels in USA. So it means that One in every five hotels or motels, in Use is owned by Patel.