Patel

The surname is popular and denotes a particular landowning status. Traditionally the surname is a status name referring to the village chieftains during medieval times, and was later retained as successive generations stemmed out into communities of landowners.

Bluntness in speech, an unconcern about dress and appearance, a sense of equality within the fold, and a sense of superiority towards non-Patidars, a self-image of tough independent men, naturally given to ruling over others, mark the Patidar character.

"Patidar" literally means a "landowner". Leuva Patels not only outnumber the Kadva Patels (the descendants of Kush), but are also economically stronger with bigger landholdings. Gujarat has over 6,100 industrial units that have a turnover of more than Rs 10 crore. Of these, nearly 1,700 belong to Patels - well over 25 per cent, says Vansjaliya. Amongst the traditional non-mercantile communities, this would be the highest representation. In contrast, Jains own 720 of these and Brahmins only 320. About 40 per cent of the Patidars are businessmen, industrialists and entrepreneurs; 30 per cent fall in the middle-class; 21 per cent are well-to-do farmers; and the remaining 9 per cent are poor, marginal farmers, according to local social scientists and economists. Their success abroad is the stuff of legends: in Africa, Europe as well as the United States.

One thing no one disputes is that the Patels practically own Gujarat.

Patels could well be a generic name for well-heeled Indians at large. The "Patel shot" is now a generic term for standard touristy Indians take in front of a famous location like the Eiffel Tower or Niagara Falls. Some years back, referring to the profusion of Indians in the tech world, someone coined the expression 'Intel Inside, Patel Outside'.

For the longest time, "Keeping up with the Joneses" has been a popular expression. But linguistic revisionists are now suggesting that "Keeping up with the Joneses" be replaced with "Keeping up with the Patels", particularly since the idiom points to the growing Indian global influence.

With Patels, there are attributes outside consumptive tendencies which do not square with the Joneses. They are exceptional entrepreneurs -an industrious, self-made, risk-taking lot. Joneses are more likely well-bred aristocrats, the kind that inhabit Wodehouse's world.

A recent survey in Britain that examined buying behavior of the country's most common surnames showed that the Patels are spending more per head on electronic goods and gadgets than any other group. It shows Patels splurged $5,000 a year on items such as home entertainment systems, computers, phones, cameras etc, far more than the Jones (who came in 16th), Smiths and Browns.

One thing no one disputes is that the Patels practically own Gujarat.

Patels could well be a generic name for well-heeled Indians at large. The "Patel shot" is now a generic term for standard touristy Indians take in front of a famous location like the Eiffel Tower or Niagara Falls. Some years back, referring to the profusion of Indians in the tech world, someone coined the expression 'Intel Inside, Patel Outside'.

For the longest time, "Keeping up with the Joneses" has been a popular expression. But linguistic revisionists are now suggesting that "Keeping up with the Joneses" be replaced with "Keeping up with the Patels", particularly since the idiom points to the growing Indian global influence.

With Patels, there are attributes outside consumptive tendencies which do not square with the Joneses. They are exceptional entrepreneurs -an industrious, self-made, risk-taking lot. Joneses are more likely well-bred aristocrats, the kind that inhabit Wodehouse's world.

A recent survey in Britain that examined buying behavior of the country's most common surnames showed that the Patels are spending more per head on electronic goods and gadgets than any other group. It shows Patels splurged $5,000 a year on items such as home entertainment systems, computers, phones, cameras etc, far more than the Jones (who came in 16th), Smiths and Browns.

The last name of Patel has an obsession with Taco Bell. If you see a Patel at Taco Bell grabbing the container of sauces don’t be weirded out because it is normal for a Patel. They stock up on sauces throughout the year.

A name you will find in every directory. Even if it is in the Arctic Circle.

The most common last name in India. It's like Smith over there.

The last name of the person your money goes to when you stay in a hotel or motel in the United States.