Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. à trois colonnes de gu.; au chef d'azur, ch. de trois étoiles d'or.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Patel family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. à trois colonnes de gu.; au chef d'azur, ch. de trois étoiles d'or.”

The Patel arms were recorded in Paris, c. 1663.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
The surname Patel carries a rich history that originates from the Indian subcontinent, where it functioned as a title for village headmen or landowners. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word patta, which refers to a land deed or a royal grant. Historically, individuals holding this title were responsible for collecting taxes and managing local administrative duties on behalf of the government. By the mid-seventeenth century, the movement of people across trade routes led to the presence of individuals bearing this name in diverse regions, including a documented record of a Patel family residing in Paris in 1663. This early migration highlights how the family name transitioned from a specific professional role in local governance to a recognized surname that traveled across international borders during the era of early global trade.
Derived from the Middle English word for a small plate or dish.
