<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (August 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> 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 . </P> <P> The term patel derives from the word community Patidar, literally "one who holds (owned) pieces of land called patis", implying a higher economic status than that of the landless . </P> <P> The surname historically originated in the Indian state of Gujarat, where it is among the most common of surnames . Today, the name can be found in a wide variety of regions in India, as well as several other countries . </P>

What is the meaning of the word patel