Patel is not a single caste; it is mainly a surname/title used by several agrarian and landowning communities, especially in Gujarat, that can fall into different caste and reservation categories depending on region and lineage.

Quick Scoop: What caste is “Patel”?

  • “Patel” historically meant village headman or chieftain, linked to landowning farmers and local revenue collectors.
  • In Gujarat, many Patels are from the Patidar (also called Patidar/Patel) community, traditionally an agrarian, landowning group that became economically powerful in business, trade, and industry.
  • Within Patidars, there are sub‑groups like Leuva (Leva) and Kadva Patels, which are sub‑castes with their own histories, regions, and social status.
  • The “Patel” title is also used by Koli communities (Koli Patels), who are classified as Other Backward Class (OBC) in Gujarat, and by some Parsis and Muslims who historically adopted the title.
  • Because of this diversity, a person with the surname “Patel” might be counted as General, OBC, or even other categories in government records, depending on their specific sub‑community and state rules.

A simple way to think about it

If someone asks, “What caste is Patel?” the most accurate short answer is:

Patel is a common Indian surname mainly associated with Patidar and other agrarian communities (like some Koli groups), not one single caste; its exact caste/quota status depends on the region and sub‑group.

Small note on sensitivity

Caste identity can be personal and sensitive, and two people with the same surname “Patel” may belong to different caste classifications or have different ways of identifying themselves today.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.