from AsianceMagazine.com: Patel ranks surprisingly high in this country as a last
from AsianceMagazine.com:
Patel ranks surprisingly high in this country as a last name. The 2000 U.S. census ranked Patel at 172nd among the nation’s 1,000 most frequently occurring surnames. (Smith ranked first.)
In India, the name Patel has been associated with the Vaishya, or merchant class, of the Hindu caste system. Patels are renowned in India for honoring guests.
– http://www.asiancemagazine.com/news/2010/08/09/the-name-patel-is-almost-as-popular-as-smith-in-us-