Singh means Lion in Sanskrit. It is a middle name or surname and is often used by Sikhs although it can also be found among other Indians.
The tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh gave all Sikh men the last name of Singh and women Kaur to create an egalitarian society. He wanted to break down barriers based on caste.
Origin
The word singh is derived from the Sanskrit word Sinha, meaning Lion. It was first adopted as a name by warrior castes of India in the 12th century. Later, it was introduced as a surname in Sikhism. Men of the Sikh religion use Singh as their surname and women, Kaur. The name symbolizes courage and bravery.
Unlike other Indian names such as Nawab, Rai, Chaudhary, Malik, Rao, Raja and Maharaja, which had clan/caste/class connotations, the name Singh does not. It is considered a suffix that signifies a person’s martial heritage and heroism, similar to Khan among Muslims.
When Guru Gobind Singh asked all baptized Sikhs to adopt the name of Singh, he was trying to abolish the Indian caste system that assigned value and rights to people based on which family they belonged to. Keeping the name Singh was also an indication that you were part of a single brotherhood, just like the lion is a symbol of courage. In addition, women were encouraged to use the name Kaur in order to promote equality in the family.
Today, the name Singh is commonly used by all baptized Sikhs as their surname or middle name. Moreover, it is also used by many North Indian Hindus who are not Sikhs. In fact, ‘Singh’ is the 6th most common surname in the world, according to Forebears. It is most common in India, followed by Guyana, Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, South Africa, and England.
In recent times, it has become popular for non-Sikhs to take on the name of Singh as a way of showing their connection with the religion. While some may use it as their surname, most prefer to keep it as a middle or given name.
Sikhs are a proud people, and their pride is manifested through the way they pronounce their names. They believe that their name should be pronounced correctly, not just because it is beautiful, but because it represents their culture and history. Jagmeet Singh, the leader of the Sikh community in Canada, has even taken to TikTok to teach people how to pronounce his name properly.
Meaning
The word singh means Lion in many South Asian languages. It is also used as a surname or middle name by people following the Sikh religion. People with the last name Singh are mainly from India, but it is also found in other parts of the world.
The tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, created the unique identity of the Sikh people by giving all Sikh men the last name Singh and all Sikh women the last name Kaur. He did this because of his desire to abolish the caste system in India and create an egalitarian society. In the Indian caste system, one’s last name indicated their social status and the family they came from. By using the name Singh, he was trying to break this barrier between people. The name Kaur, on the other hand, denoted royalty – a sovereign princess.
While the last name Singh is primarily associated with the Sikh religion, it is used by people of all faiths in South Asia. It is also common among non-Sikh Punjabis, Gurjars, Brahmins (e.g. Lakshmeshwar Singh), and Marathas (e.g. Maharaja Ranjit Singh). People with this last name are mainly from India, but it is found in other parts of the world as well.
There are over 36 million people with the last name Singh worldwide. This makes it the 6th most popular surname in the world. It is most prevalent in India, where it is borne by 34 percent of the population. It is also common in Guyana, Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago, New Zealand, and South Africa. It is rare in The United States and England.
Regardless of where in the world people with this last name live, they all share a similar cultural background. They are a proud and resilient people who have come a long way from their humble beginnings. They have a rich heritage and culture that they are passionate about. This is why it is so important for them to share their stories with the rest of the world and help others understand their heritage and culture.
Pronunciation
The word Singh can be pronounced as siNgh, siNGH, sNGh, sNg, or sng. It is the 9th most common surname in the world, and is used mostly in Asia. It can also be spelled as Singh, Sinh, or Singh.
It is a masculine given name and can be used as a surname or middle name. The name carries the meaning of lion or tiger, and can imply a brave spirit. It can also carry the meaning of king or leader. It is often associated with the Rajput clan, but it has been used by other castes and communities.
In the 12th century, warriors in the Indian subcontinent started using Singh as their name to signify courage. Later it was adopted by Sikhs, whose Guru Gobind Singh mandated that all males would be given this name. The name has since been used by warriors, royalty, and people of other castes and communities. It is now used by Punjabis, Jats, Thakores, Gadwalis, and Bhil people among others.
Sikhs are a religion that seeks to end the Indian caste system, which assigns value and rights to individuals based on their families. The Gurus of the Sikh religion encouraged all men to use the name Singh, and women to use the name Kaur. This was to promote equality among all people.
Using the name Singh and Kaur, as opposed to adopting family names upon marriage, promoted equality of women as well. It also meant that the men and women were no longer tied to a specific caste, which was part of the Indian caste system.
In a TikTok video, Jagmeet Singh says that when his name is mispronounced it makes him feel like he loses a little bit of himself. He encourages everyone to stand up for their name and defend it.
Breaking the name down into its component sounds can help people pronounce it correctly. The g sound is the hardest to get right, but practice makes perfect! It’s also helpful to listen to others pronounce the name, and then compare your own pronunciation. It’s important to focus on one accent, as mixing multiple accents can be confusing.
Variations
Depending on region and community, Singh can be pronounced as simha, sinh, simhaa, singham, shinja or singhji. It is also the 9th most common surname in the world and is used by people from different religions.
The name Singh was given by Guru Gobind Singh Ji to his followers in 1699, to signify a brave community who will fight against all odds in life. Besides the Sikhs, the name is also used by non-Sikh Punjabis, Gurjars (e.g. Nain Singh), Brahmins (e.g. Lakshmeshwar Singh), Rajputs (e.g. Maharaja Ranjit Singh) and Kushwahas (e.g. Babu Singh Kushwaha).
It is important to note that ‘Singh’ does not have any clan or caste connotations, unlike other feudal titles like Nawab, Rai, Chaudhary, Malik, Rao, Rana, or Raja which had these connotations. Singh is a cultural suffix which is added to a person’s name to brandish his/her martial heritage, much like how Khan is used among Muslims. This is why ‘Singh’ is commonly found in military and police personnel. It is not a name given by birth but by choice.
