Patel is a popular last name from the state of Gujarat in India. Surnames in Western India usually denote occupation and thus, the name Patel came to apply (initially) to those who were farmers and peasants, or rich land-owners. Both Hindus and Muslims have Patel as a family name.

This particular surname is perhaps the most popular and easily identified Indian last name. Unlike many European last names, if you come across two random Patels, the chances of the two actually having any connection at all is very low. As a testament to the sheer frequency of the name Patel amongst Indian expatriates, the Pharmaceutical Register in the UK lists more Patels than Smiths.

Over time, the Patels living in the Western World have acquired certain reputations within their host societies. In the UK Patels are associated with cornershops, and in the US they are also associated with the hotel and motel businesses.

People with the surname Patel were once land managers for the king. Each area of farmland had a manager that oversaw the area for the king and reported the happenings to him. Patel comes from the word "pat," meaning "land."

Hindu Patels are divided into two branches: Leuva (also spelled as Leava or Leva), who were historically farmers, and Kadva, who were historically the business class.