Question: what is the meaning of the word patel

title: Patel
text: Patel is an Indian surname originally representing a community of agriculturalists and merchants , predominantly in the states of Gujarat , India . Once considered to be a status name of Hindu and Parsi origin referring to village headsmen during medieval ages , the surname was later adopted by the Patidar community of land owners . Today , there are currently two major branches of people bearing the surname : Leuva and Kadva . The branches are distinguished mainly by geographic location and varying cultural practices . Today the surname is used by Hindus . There are roughly 500,000 Patels outside India , including 150,000 in Britain and 150,000 in the US . Nearly 1 in 10 people of Indian origin in the US is a Patel .