The Patel Family History

What Does the Patel Surname Mean? Historical Origins Explained

The surname Patel, with roots in both East India and England, is derived from the term ‘patlikh,’ which signifies a record keeper or an individual responsible for documenting land and its agricultural yield. Variants of the name include Patill, Patell, Putel, Patil, and Putell. The Patel surname is prevalent in regions such as Berwickshire in Scotland, as well as in India, Canada, South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda. It is recognized as one of the most widespread surnames across India. In England, the majority of individuals bearing this surname reside in the London area, the Channel Islands, and Lancashire county. Since the 1960s, a significant number of Patel families have established permanent residence in the United States, where the surname has emerged as the most common Indian family name. Notable concentrations can be found in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Missouri, Indiana, Minnesota, and California. Prominent individuals associated with the Patel surname include Dipak Patel, a cricketer from New Zealand; Jabbar Patel, a film director; Adam Patel, a businessman from Lancashire; Dinesh Patel, a professional baseball player; Nikki Patel, an actress from England; Alpesh Patel, an American film director; Neil Patel, a theater set designer in the United States; and Kalpesh Patel, a cricketer from Kenya.