[citation needed] Sikh girls take on last name of Singh, a practice more common in larger cities. Given the translation of The lion , it is perhaps not surprising that it is one of the most popular names in the world, however that is not… For a long time, this was the way Sikhs did. Har/jeet/). Singh (IPA: /ˈsɪŋ/) is a title, middle name, or surname that means "lion" in various Indo-Iranian languages. Harinder Singh Khalsa). [1], Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sikh_names&oldid=999859791, Articles needing additional references from September 2019, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 12 January 2021, at 09:04. [citation needed] For example, Ujjal means "bright, clean, holy". traditional, Gurbani derived, contemporary, nick names and common last names can be found here. Several variants of the word are found in other languages: Originally, the Sanskrit word for lion, variously transliterated as Simha or Singh was used as a title by Kshatriya warriors in northern parts of India. Female Sikhs used to have 'Kaur' as their middle or last name, which means 'princess'. Jayasimha, the first ruler of the Chalukya dynasty to bear the title Simha, ruled around 500 CE. "Most new citizens come from the United Kingdom and India, with a significant number from Sikh backgrounds where Singh is the chosen family name … and did not think it wrong. Schedule a Consult. Among the Rajputs, the use of the word Simha came into vogue among the Paramaras of Malwa in 10th century CE, among the Guhilots and the Kachwahas of Narwar in the 12th century CE, and the Rathores of Marwar after the 17th century. Originally, the Sanskrit word for lion, variously transliterated as Simha or Singh was used as a title by Kshatriya warriors in northern parts of India. These included the Brahmins, the Kayasthas and the Baniyas of what are now Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Maharaja Ranjit Singh). Guru Arjan Dev ji while editing Gurbani allowed Guru Ramdas ji to be refered to as Sodhi by the Bhats e.g. So we must remember that both these words are part and parcel of the first name of every Sikh, which they proudly … Singh and Kaur are common names in the Sikh community. Well, the kids, just like the parents, would be Singh or Kaur according to their gender. SIKH SURNAMES AND THE CASTES TO WHICH THEY BELONG Originally when Guru Gobind Singh made the Khalsa, he banned castes and surname use, instead all Sikhs were either called Singh (Lion) or Kaur (Princess). [13] The name is also found among the Indian diaspora. In 1699 Guru Gobind Singh gave all his Sikh female followers the surname Kaur and all males Singh. Of course many of these surnames are used across Sikhs and Hindus and among Hindus of Punjab there has been a tradition of making one of the sons a Sikh. About Sansi Sikh SubCaste . Before adopting the Sikh religion this caste claims origin from Bhatti Rajputs from Rajputana who had taken to nomadic life after their defeat by Alla-ud-din Khilji in 1303 AD. The local Gurdwara Sahib in Kandhra and Ulhasnagar bears his name. [citation needed] The process of choosing a Sikh's first name, known as the Naam Karan, occurs following the first few days of their birth, in a ceremony called the Hukamnama (referring to a hymn from the Guru Granth Sahib as the will from God); a family often selects a name for a child by opening the Sikh holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib to a certain "aang" and choosing a name that begins with the first letter of the first word on the "aang". Some Sikhs add the names of their native villages instead (e.g. [citation needed] Again, Punjabi culture generally contradicts this as women are expected to take their husband's family name. [6] Bhumihars, who originally used Brahmin surnames, also started affixing Singh to their names. [17], A section of around a million adherents of Sikhism that live abroad in Western countries only keep Singh or Kaur as their last name. Found recorded in the spellings of Sinha and Singh, this famous surname is Sikh (Hindi Indian) in origin. Rajputs may have "Singh" as middle name or last name (e.g. Granted Punjabi Jats (Sikhs) from the villages did not marry within the village and, indeed to a certain extent, did not marry within the same surnames. The Rajputs started using Singh in preference to the classical epithet of "Varman". Traditionally, popular Gursikhs have used the name of their villages or towns with their name e.g. [citation needed]. Maharaja Ranjit Singh - founder of the Sikh Empire; Where Do People With the SINGH Surname Live? Male Sikhs used to have 'Singh' as either their middle or last name, which means 'lion'. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. (Note that Singh is spelled irregularly: it is written /singh/ but pronounced /siṅg) These names reflect the strong egalitarianism of the Sikh religion. In Sikhism, women don't change their surnames after marriage - this is due to the fact that each partner keeps Singh and Kaurrespectively, who use their preferred names). There are about 25 million Sikhs around the world, over 20 million of them live in India, and another million live spread across the UK, Canada and the USA. [7] It was adopted by the Sikhs in 1699, as per the instructions of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Q&A session in Calgary, Canada in early 2015. These names were originally intended to replace the Sikh's original surname, which was often a caste name. [18], For a list of people with the surname, see, CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Singh&oldid=1007916554, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from December 2018, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2019, Articles containing Sinhala-language text, Articles containing Burmese-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 20 February 2021, at 16:26. Sikhs have a given name and one or both of a surname and a Khalsa name. Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad) and Hindu Jats, (e.g. Singh is most commonly found in India, where it ranks 2nd in the nation. SINGH सिंह, ਸਿੰਘ Hindi, Marathi, Nepali, Punjabi, Indian (Sikh) From Sanskrit सिंह (sinha) meaning "lion". This takes into account only father side by ignoring mother side. [1] The name was mandated in the 18th century by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji for all male Sikhs. Some believers maintain that this practice of naming without using the word Singh or Kaur is manmat (Against the will of the Guru) and is prohibited in the Rehat Maryada (The way of living of Sikhs). suji singh wrote:Serjinder Ji ---Excellent explanation as always. In Sikhism, all girl's names end with Kaur (princess) and all boy's names end with Singh (lion). Sansi is a gypsy and nomadic tribe before the birth of Sikhism, although Hindu Sansis also exist within and outside Punjab in sizable numbers. [6], By the sixteenth century, "Singh" had become a popular surname among Rajputs. On becoming a Khalsa (becoming baptized in the Sikh religion), the Sikh undertakes the obligation to wear the physical symbols of this status (the Five Ks) and takes the name "lion", usually romanized as Singh, if a man, or /kaur/ "the Crown Princess" for female, usually romanized as Kaur, if a woman. Jun 2, 2020 - Buy 'SINGHPopular indian sikh surname (India | UK | USA)' by Trisha2k as a Coasters Originally when Guru Gobind Singh made the Khalsa, he banned castes and surname use, instead all Sikhs were either called Singh(Lion) or Kaur(Princess). Given the translation of The lion , it is perhaps not surprising that it is one of the most popular names in the world, however that is not… As a surname or a middle name, it is now found throughout the world across communities and religious groups, becoming more of a title than a surname. He was a close associate of Sant Sham Singh (1803-1926) who performed kirtan seva at Harmandir Sahib for many decades and motivated numerous Sikhs during his lifetime including Sant Gurmukh Singh of Patiala (1849-1947) to take up Karseva of Gurdwaras. [2][citation needed], The word "Singh" is derived from the Sanskrit-language word सिंह (IAST: siṃha) meaning "lion", and is used in the sense "hero" or "eminent person".[3]. Bhai Randheer Singh Narangwal, Sant Sunder Singh Bhindranwale etc. [11] Ahir (Yadav) and Kurmis used 'Singh' as part of their name. Dear Kalwant Singh ji Bhai Gurdas was without doubt a true Sikh and he mostly identified the Sikhs of the first five Guruji in his VAARS by their surnames e.g. [citation needed], Sikh given names are gender neutral, generally formed of a prefix and a suffix (ex. Again, Punjabi culture generally contradicts this as women are expected to take their husband's family name. Sikh Names & Words S I K H N A M E S and Gurmukhi words in English, Gurmukhi (ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ), Hindi (हिनदी) and their significance, meanings and pronunciations. I've got quite a few Punjabi Hindu and Sikh friends, and their surnames do *NOT* sound Indic. Clans . In England this was known as Poll Tax. > Adding laste name has gained currency lately, as religion has lost some of > its attraction. In order to help the Name stand out we recommend that you fill in all the details giving SikhiWiki users a feel for the meaning of the name. Similarly, a woman born Harjeet Gill should become Harjeet Kaur or Harjeet Kaur Gill. Here is an additional comment. Different castes still exist today in some aspects of Punjabi culture; similarly to the Hindu caste system, this system is based on employment[citation needed] (ex. Question was Should we replace our surnames with Singh/Kaur? Taru Popat, Paira Mokha, Dhesi, Sang, Soni, Kohli etc. In spite that this system is not permitted for Sikhs as it reinforces both tribalism and the patriarchy, it is the most widely used naming system amongst non-baptized Sikhs (and still prevalent among baptized Sikhs). In many instances, it is also used as a middle name with the family name serving as the surname. In the case of 'Singh', and it maybe said that as every male Sikh is called 'Singh' it is only outside of India that it becomes a true surname. Found recorded in the spellings of Sinha and Singh, this famous surname is Sikh (Hindi Indian) in origin. [12], People belonging to several other castes and communities have also used Singh as a title, middle name or a surname; these include non-Sikh Punjabis, Gujjars (e.g. traditional, Gurbani derived, contemporary, nick names and common last names can be found here. These often reflect the profession or caste of the family. Singh is the 6th most common surname in the world, according to surname distribution data from Forebears, used by more than 36 million people. If you have any more, please feel free to add to this list.Please don't add the names related with Sikh Gurus. Jats are historically land-owners, farmers or warriors. In the 19th century, even the Bengal court peons of the lower castes adopted the title "Singh". find us: bellmore, ny contact: (516) 785-7763 The ban was denounced by the Sikh community, after which the Citizenship and Immigration Canada announced it was dropping the policy, calling the whole issue a misunderstanding based on a "poorly worded" letter. Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mahendra Singh Dhoni). There are two broad categories: Jat (jut) and Khat(t)ri (kh - schwa - t - r - long e). Popular politicians have also used their villages or towns with their names e.g. Schedule a Consult; ramgarhia sikh surnames Sikh Names & Words S I K H N A M E S and Gurmukhi words in English, Gurmukhi (ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ), Hindi (हिनदी) and their significance, meanings and pronunciations. Yes, I know some people have added "Singh" as a surname e.g., Harjot Kaur Singh, but that just comes from not thinking it through. The Rajputs started using … [citation needed], In Sikhism, women don't change their surnames after marriage - this is due to the fact that each partner keeps Singh and Kaur respectively, who use their preferred names). Harcharan Singh Longowal, after Longowal). The earliest recorded examples of the names ending with "Simha" are the names of the two sons of the Saka ruler Rudraraman in the second century CE. Their daughters would then generally have a given name, as well as the Khalsa name and their father's last name, which is usually the name of the father's village; for example, a girl with the name Harjeet, whose father's last name is A… Over the following years, in the times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the Sikh Missls that reclaimed land back from the Moghuls, those leading the Missls eventually settled in those areas taking up farming. Spiritual names starting with S may be combined with other Sikh names to form unique baby names that are appropriate for either boys or girls. Manmohan Singh or Yuvraj Singh) or as a middle name/title (e.g. It has also been adopted by several castes and communities. For a decade, the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi stated in letters to its Sikh clients that "the names Kaur and Singh do not qualify for the purpose of immigration to Canada", requiring people with these surnames to adopt new ones. Some Sikhs do replace their original surname with their Khalsa name, but many retain their original surname and add the Khalsa name before it. The Vengi branchof the Chalukyas continued using Simha as the last name till the eleventh century. Patel, Singh among most common surnames in UK, Ireland A four-year research project has produced details about 45,600 most common family names in … Jun 2, 2020 - Buy 'SINGHPopular indian sikh surname (India | UK | USA)' by Trisha2k as a iPhone Wallet When surnames are dropped, they are dropped at that point in the lineage. Famous People With the Surname SINGH Milkha Singh - former Indian track and field sprinter known as The Flying Sikh Bhagat Singh - Indian political activist Sadhu Sundar Singh - Indian Christian missionary Maharaja Ranjit Singh - founder of the Sikh Empire Listen to the audio pronunciation of Singh (surname) on pronouncekiwi. [10] In Bihar and Jharkhand, the surname came to associated with power and authority, and was adopted by people of multiple castes, including Brahmin zamindars. When used as a middle name, it is generally followed by the caste, clan or family name. Baptism is not necessary to use these Sikh last names. Nirbhay Singh Gujjar), Marathas (e.g. The surname may be a family name (based on the name of the ancestral village, ex. [16], Originally, a common practice among the Rajput men was to have "Singh" as their last name, while Rajput women had the last name 'Kanwar'. However, now, many Rajput women have Singh in their name (e.g.Prashanti Singh) as well. jatt signifies the farming caste). > Surinder Singh wrote > This is not true. Secondly, as has been already explained, 'Singh' is an inseparable part of a male Sikh name, while 'Kaur' goes to complete a female Sikh name. Bhim Singh Rana), Sikh Jats,(e.g. Often those who just stick to 'Singh' as surname are hiding their traditional lower status in Indian Society compared to those who use one of many Sikh surnames. Khatris are historically merchants or, less commonly, warriors. [citation needed], Many Sikhs use the sole Singh and Kaur (without any other family name). Sikh Surnames . > > one of many Sikh surnames. Manish Singh Parmar)[15] To stop the practice of caste system in Sikhism, some Sikhs append "Khalsa" to Singh (e.g. Thread "Many Punjabi Surnames Don't Sound Indic" started as Nirvana wrote: Thurs, Feb 26 2004 5:12 pm. Guru Gobind Singh asked Sikhs to to discard "caste" last > names and use Singh/Kaur. The Vengi branch of the Chalukyas continued using Simha as the last name till the eleventh century. Sikh Surnames Clans These often reflect the profession or caste of the family. In a tradition that began more than 300 years ago, the name Singh is given to every baptized male and Kaur to every baptized female Sikh. [8][9], In the 18th century, several groups started using the title "Singh". Pronunciation : case sensitive: see the pronunciation key for a guide on how to write the sounds; sounds can only be searched in names that have been assigned pronunciations * is a wildcard that will match zero or more letters in the pronunciation example: *lee matches names which end with the sound lee _ is a wildcard that will match exactly one letter in the pronunciation [14], "Singh" is generally used as a surname (e.g. hours: mon-fri: 7:00am - 5:30pm. Sikhs use a set of several hundred given names, all or nearly all meaningful, usually with a religious or moral theme. Singh is used by all baptized male Sikhs, regardless of their geographical or cultural binding; the women use Kaur. The surname 'Singh' is used by many caste groups in Bihar. The earliest recorded examples of the names ending with "Simha" are the names of the two sons of the Saka ruler Rudraraman in the second century CE. Gill) or a caste name. The name has been adopted as a title by some warriors, such as Rajputs. This has caused legal problems in immigration procedures, especially in Canada. For example, taking advantage of the fact that there was no reliable way to ascertain a person's caste, some of the low-caste Indian indentured labourers brought to British Guiana adopted the surname "Singh", claiming to be high-caste Kshatriyas. Jayasimha, the first ruler of the Chalukya dynasty to bear the title Simha, ruled around 500 CE. The surname is also fairly common in New Zealand, including Manakua City, Papakura District and the Western Bay of Plenty District, as well as in the United Kingdom, particularly in the West Midlands. Historically too Sikhs have used their villages with their … Parkash Singh Badal, Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Jagdev Singh Talwandi, Manjit Singh Calcutta etc. Thus, a man born Sandeep Brar should become Sandeep Singh but more likely will become Sandeep Singh Brar. The adopting of the Khalsa name is symbolic for being a member of a larger family or faith. Surname Finder - SINGH Genealogy & Family ResourcesFind links to free and commercial resources for the Singh surname. Largely from Kate Monk I have following surnames [citation needed] There is however, a gender connotation attached when pronouncing a name, say Parkāśh for example; it may be either male or female, but /parakāśō/ is female while /parakāśū/ is male. Their daughters would then generally have a given name, as well as the Khalsa name and their father's last name, which is usually the name of the father's village; for example, a girl with the name Harjeet, whose father's last name is Aulakh, would then become Harjeet Kaur Aulakh (meaning "Harjeet, princess of Aulakh"). For example: Bajwa, Arora, Dua, Rehal, Dhillon, Gill, Dosanj, Cheema, Saini, and so on.