[1] The Salvi trace their origin from the word Sal, which means a loom.

[2] While in Gujarat, the Salvi who are also known as the Patliwala or Patua, claim to have been brought from Maharashtra in the 11th Century by the Rajput rulers to Patan.

[3][4] As per the census of India, 1921 approximately 6.88 laks sale or salve people were living in Madras, Rajasthan, Hyderabad and Bombay provinces.

With the decline in there traditional occupation of weaving, they are now mainly a community of landless agricultural labourers.

A small number are still involved with weaving, and make thick cotton clothes and turban.