Family Name, Meaning, History, And More – Moms Who Think (2024)

Are you curious about the origins and meaning of the last name Patel? As one of the world's most common family names or surnames, you will probably meet someone with this name during your lifetime. It might even be your last name! Researching a common family name like Patel has its challenges, but the good thing is that there is a wealth of information about this name in online genealogical records. We will examine the origins and history of the name. We will also discover what this surname means. Finally, we will review some of the most notable Patels in history.

Patel: Name meaning, origin, and region

The surname Patel is a prevalent last name for people of Indian descent. The Patel surname is the last name of twenty to twenty-five percent of the Indian population worldwide, making it one of the most common family names in the world. This surname originated in the Indian state of Gujarat. Moreover, Patel is the most common family name for Indian immigrants in the United States.

Many family names are occupational names, meaning they describe the kind of work the family did for a living. Ancestors of people named Patel often oversaw the farming activities in their villages and managed landholdings. In the Hindu language, the family name translates as “village chief”; in Gujarati, an Indo-Aryan language spoken by forty-six million people, the surname means “farmer” or “little chief.”

Many Patel family members migrated to Africa, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom to pursue economic opportunities. While the Patel community has roots in agriculture, they now work in fields such as business, medicine, engineering, politics, and more, both in India and the Indian diaspora around the world. At least eighteen Patels became famous cricketers.

Patel: Family history and records

According to the website Ancestry, there are over seven thousand census records for the family name Patel. Census records can tell you what people named Patel did in the past. Between 1880 and 1920, the Patel family name was found in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The most Patels were recorded in the US census in 1920. In the 1940 American census, the top occupations for this surname were “proprietor” and “salesman” for men and “housewife” and “saleslady” for women.

In addition to the census records, there are over fourteen thousand immigration records for this family name, including naturalization records, passenger lists, and passports. Moreover, there are 430 military records for this surname. Dating back to 1791 and digitized through 1992, these records contain information for thousands of people with the Patel family name.

To sift through this volume of information, you will need as much data as you can gather about your ancestors and family tree. Birth, marriage, death, and divorce dates will help narrow your search. Moreover, information on city, county, and state can also help you find direct ancestors. As you compile data, organize it systematically, cross-reference sources, and verify information for accuracy. Genealogy forums and social media groups dedicated to researching family history are also great resources. For instance, the Patel Surname Project wants to connect people with this surname who are researching family histories.

Family Name, Meaning, History, And More – Moms Who Think (1)

Patel: Famous people with this name

Many famous people with this last name have succeeded in a variety of fields. Here are a few notable Patels.

  • Dev Patel, a British actor known for the TV drama Skins and the Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire.
  • Kevin Patel, American climate change activist.
  • Neil Patel, author, entrepreneur, and digital marketer.
  • Neil Patel, set designer for film, theater, and television.
  • Raj Patel, academic and author, nicknamed the “rock star of social justice writing.”
  • Ravi Patel, writer and actor known for his autobiographical documentary Meet the Patels.
  • Sangita Patel, Canadian TV personality known for hosting Entertainment Tonight Canada.
  • Shailja Patel, Kenyan writer known for her novel Migritude.
  • Sujata Patel, author, professor, and sociologist.
  • Viraf Patel, actor, model, and screenwriter.

In Summary

The Patel surname is one of the most common family names in the world. The name originates in the Indian state of Gujarat. As an occupational last name, it originally denoted families involved in farming. As a result, the surname Patel translates to “farmer” or “little chief.” The Patel family name is famous in many fields and is now prevalent worldwide. Patels now commonly live both in India and outside of India in America, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

The family history of Patel is well-documented, with thousands of census and immigration records. Researchers interested in uncovering the Patel family history should collect detailed information about their ancestors. This information should include important dates and geographical locations. The more information you have, the easier it will be to sift through online genealogy material. Utilizing genealogy forums and social media groups for additional resources and support is also a great way to connect with other researchers.

Researching genealogy is a great family activity and inspires storytelling and sharing. One of the many joys of genealogy is uncovering hidden family stories. Despite the amount of family history available online, many Patel stories are still waiting to be discovered and told by family researchers.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©CJK CREATIVE/Shutterstock.com.

Family Name, Meaning, History, And More – Moms Who Think (2024)

FAQs

What is mothers previous family name? ›

A married woman's maiden name is her parents' surname, which she used before she got married and started using her husband's surname.

What is the history of your family called? ›

genealogy, the study of family origins and history.

What is the meaning of maternal last name? ›

A matrilineal surname or matriname is a family name inherited from one's mother, and maternal grandmother, and so on whose line of descent is called a mother-line, mitochondrial line, or matriline.

What does former family name mean? ›

Former name is name you have previously been known by. Example : Before your mother was married to your father her family name was probably different, that was her former name.

What is mother's ancestry? ›

Your direct maternal lineage is the line that follows your mother's maternal ancestry. This line consists entirely of women, although both men and women have their mother's mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). This means that fathers do not pass on their mtDNA to their children.

What is the meaning of Maidan name? ›

: a woman's family name before she is married. After she divorced, she took back her maiden name.

What is a synonym for family history? ›

background birthplace blood breed descent genealogy heritage kindred line lineage origin parentage pedigree race.

What do you call your family of origin? ›

Importance of Family of Origin. Family of origin refers to the significant caretakers and siblings that a person grows up with, or the first social group a person belongs to, which is often a person's biological family or an adoptive family.

What is the name for family historians? ›

The terms genealogist and family historian are used very inconsistently and have been used interchangeably. Some consider genealogists to be individuals who conduct genealogical research professionally, on behalf of others and family historians as those who pursue genealogy for themselves on an amateur basis.

What does patronymic mean? ›

A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (more specifically an avonymic), or an earlier male ancestor.

What is a matrilineal name? ›

If the children in your culture take their mother's last name, and not their father's, this is a matrilineal tradition.

Why do some people have their moms last name? ›

Some make less common choices, like giving children the mother's surname or coming up with new names altogether. For some, it is a rejection of patriarchal norms. Others say it's about maintaining ties to their heritage or ethnicity, or because fathers weren't involved in raising the children.

Why do ex-wives keep their last name? ›

Divorced moms would also like to keep their married names because it helps them stay emotionally connected to the names of their children. Plus, it is convenient when it comes to signing any documents for the child. It also helps the child feel connected to his family.

What is the full mother's maiden name? ›

If you were explaining it to a child, you would say that "mother's maiden name" is your mother's full name before she got married, that is, her name with her original family name (or "surname"), the name she used when she was a girl and a young woman, before she started using the title "Mrs."

Can a wife keep her husband's name after divorce? ›

You can keep your married name, return to your birth name, choose a new name, or drop your last name altogether. The reasons you keep or change your married name will be your own, as well. Some people prefer their married name, others want to honor their families, and others still want a clean slate.

What is my mother's family name? ›

What is the definition and meaning of the term mother's maiden name? Since traditionally most women have changed their surnames to their husband's when they got married, a maiden name is a woman's surname before she is married, usually her father's surname, or her mother's if her parents weren't married.

What is mother's last maiden name? ›

"Mother's maiden name" means the surname that a woman has before she gets married. It is usually the surname that she was given when she was born. A mother's maiden name is her family name before she got married and changed her last name to her husband's.

Is Mother's family name her maiden name? ›

Your mother's maiden name is the name she was born with, her family name. It's the name she had before she was married. Any changes after marriage, won't affect her maiden name.

What is the meaning of previous name? ›

It's a name you used in the past but don't anymore. For instance, a woman who was born Mary Katherine Smith and chooses to become Mary Katherine Jones or Mary Smith Jones when she marries would list her maiden name as her “former” name.

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