Find out how popular the last name Patil is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Patil.

Patil, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Patil surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Patil in America

Patil is the 11318th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Patil surname appeared 2,790 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Patil.

We can also compare 2010 data for Patil to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Patil

The surname Patil originated in India, specifically in the Marathi-speaking regions of present-day Maharashtra and Karnataka. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th to 16th centuries. The name Patil is derived from the word "Patel," which in several Indian languages refers to a village headman or a community leader.

Historically, the Patils held significant social and administrative roles in rural areas, serving as intermediaries between the local population and the ruling authorities. They were responsible for collecting taxes, settling disputes, and overseeing various aspects of village life. The name Patil became a hereditary title, passed down from generation to generation within certain families.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Patil can be found in the Marathi literature and inscriptions from the Yadava dynasty, which ruled parts of present-day Maharashtra between the 12th and 14th centuries. During this period, the Patils were actively involved in the governance and administration of local communities.

In the 16th century, the Maratha Empire under Shivaji Maharaj further solidified the role of Patils as influential figures in rural administration. Some notable Patils from this era include Maloji Patil, a trusted aide of Shivaji Maharaj, and Yesaji Patil, a military commander who played a significant role in the Maratha campaigns.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Patil have made their mark in various fields. One prominent example is Vasantrao Patil (1917-1989), a renowned freedom fighter and politician who served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Another noteworthy figure is Balwantrao Patil (1889-1973), a social reformer and educationist who played a crucial role in promoting education in rural areas.

Other notable Patils include Govind Patil (1924-2004), a celebrated Marathi writer and recipient of the Jnanpith Award, and Smita Patil (1955-1986), an acclaimed Bollywood actress known for her powerful performances in films like Bhumika and Arth.

The surname Patil continues to be widely prevalent in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Goa, as well as among the Marathi-speaking diaspora around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Patil

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Patil.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Patil was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Patil has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Patil was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Patil, please contact us.

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