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Surname meaningPatel
“Village headman, landholder”
OriginIndian (Gujarati)
TypeOccupational
First letterP
Where the name Patel comes from
Patel is a surname of Indian (Gujarati) origin. It is classed as occupational, meaning “village headman, landholder.” Originally a title for a village chief.
Other occupational surnames
What your last name says about your family →
A surname shows how the name began, not a family line. Many unrelated families share a name, and spellings changed over time.